Dubai resident detained for six hours at US airport

Dubai: A Dubai-based Arab man was held for six hours at Atlanta International Airport, without receiving an explanation.

The angered man believes he was held because of his nationality of a country in the Middle East and religious beliefs.

M.M. was on his way to visit resident family in Chicago when he was held in Atlanta off the flight from Dubai International Airport. He said that he was held without explanation for so long, that he missed the connecting flight to his destination.

M.M. said: "I was taken to the 'red room' by an escort and my passport was put in a red envelope. I had no idea what was going on or why I was there. An officer asked me about my work, what I do in Dubai, how long I have been there, why I am coming to the United States, how often I come, how long will I stay, who do I know in the US and then I was told I was 'OK'."

'Truth oath'

The tourist was then held in a room for four more hours, because the officers were "busy" with other cases, and was then told he had to take a truth oath.

"I've been in the US so many times when I was a kid and never faced any problems entering or exiting. Now they are saying that I should have been interviewed when I visited last October and I have to have an 'exit interview' or I won't be admitted into the US next time I come," he said.

Steven Pike, spokesperson for the US Embassy, Abu Dhabi, said: "These procedures are no different from any other country. Travellers can be held to facilitate NSEERS [National Security Entry - Exit Registration System]. We regret that delays happen and we ask people to be patient. Delays do happen, but six hours is unusual."

Security at US airports was significantly increased after the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001.

The US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) website states: "TSA does not conduct ethnic or religious profiling, and employs multiple checks and balances to ensure profiling does not happen."

Online: Know the regulation

For more information about security procedures in US airports, go to the Transportation Security Administration site: www.tsa.gov/travelers