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Why was the Terrorist Screening
Database (TSDB) created?
Prior to the creation of the TSDB, information about
known or suspected terrorists was dispersed throughout
the U.S. Government and no one agency was charged with
consolidating it and making it available for use in terrorist
screening. Under Homeland Security Presidential Directive
(HSPD) 6, the Terrorist Screening Center (TSC) now provides “one-stop
shopping” so that every government screener is
using the same terrorist watchlist—whether it is
an airport screener, an embassy official issuing visas
overseas, or a state or local law enforcement officer
on the street. The TSC allows government agencies to
run name checks against the same comprehensive list with
the most accurate, up-to-date information about known
and suspected terrorists.
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Who gets included in the
TSDB?
Per HSPD-6, only individuals who are known or appropriately
suspected to be or have been engaged in conduct constituting,
in preparation for, in aid of, or related to terrorism
are included in the TSDB.
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Does the TSDB contain information
on domestic terrorists, like Timothy McVeigh?
Yes. The TSDB contains information on both international
and domestic terrorists.
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Does the TSDB contain information
on people who have been convicted of a crime?
The purpose of the TSDB is not to hold information on
individuals who have been convicted of a crime; however,
an individual appropriately included in the TSDB may
also have a criminal history. None of the information
pertaining to the criminal history is contained or referenced
in the TSDB.
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Are there U.S. citizens in
the TSDB?
Yes, U.S. citizens are included in TSDB if they meet
the HSPD-6 terrorism nexus criteria.
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Can I find out if I am in
the TSDB?
The TSC cannot reveal whether a particular person is
in the TSDB. The TSDB remains an effective tool in the
government’s counterterrorism efforts because its
contents are not disclosed. If TSC revealed who was in
the TSDB, terrorist organizations would be able to circumvent
the purpose of the terrorist watchlist by determining
in advance which of their members are likely to be questioned
or detained.
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I am having trouble when
I try to fly or cross the border into the United States.
Does this mean I am in the TSDB?
No. At security checkpoints like our nation’s
borders, there are many law enforcement or security reasons
that an individual may be singled out for additional
screening. Most agencies have redress offices (e.g.,
Ombudsman) where individuals who are experiencing repeated
problems can seek help. If an individual is experiencing
these kinds of difficulties, he/she should cooperate
with the agency screeners and explain the recurring problems.
The screeners can supply instructions on how to raise
concerns to the appropriate agency redress office.
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I have been told that I am
on a terrorist watchlist by an airline employee and
I frequently have difficulty when I fly. Does this
mean I am in the TSDB?
No; however, an individual may be a “misidentified
person.” A misidentified person is someone who
is experiencing a delay during screening because they
have a similar name to a person in the TSDB. Misidentified
persons are sometimes delayed while the government works
to distinguish them from the terrorist in the TSDB. Because
these delays are frustrating and inconvenient, there
are several initiatives in progress to help streamline
the clearance process for misidentified persons. If an
individual believes he/she is having a misidentification
problem, he/she should contact the screening agency’s
redress office for assistance.
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Are individuals removed from
the TSDB?
Yes. The TSC works with partner agencies through a formal process to remove
individuals who no longer meet the HSPD-6 terrorism criteria.
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How does TSC ensure that
the TSDB is accurate?
The TSC has a staff dedicated to redress and quality assurance that conducts
comprehensive as well as case-specific reviews of TSDB records to ensure
they are current, accurate, and thorough. TSC conducts research and coordinates
with other federal agencies to ensure the terrorist record is as complete,
accurate, and thorough as possible. TSC’s redress and quality assurance
process has resulted in the correction or removal of hundreds of records
in TSDB.
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What are TSC's redress procedures?
See the TSC Redress Procedures for details.
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Does TSA’s Secure
Flight program have anything to do with the TSDB?
Secure Flight is a congressionally mandated program
that will check the names and dates of birth of passengers
on domestic flights against the TSDB. As with all government
programs that screen for terrorists, TSC provides this
program support to ensure that terrorist identity matches
are correct.
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What prevents the TSC from
violating the civil liberties of Americans?
The TSC only receives information collected by other
government entities with pre-existing authority to do
so. Each agency that contributes data to the TSC must
comply with legislation, as well as its own policies
and procedures to protect privacy rights and civil liberties.
The handling and use of information, including information
about U.S. citizens and legal immigrants, is governed
by the same statutory, regulatory, and constitutional
requirements as if the information was not to be included
in a TSC managed database.
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