As a security measure, there is a data base of known and suspected terrorists. South African President Nelson Mandela was on that list. Former Assistant Attorney General Jim Robinson is on that list too and he finds it a major annoyance:

“…”It’s a pain in the neck, and significantly interferes with my travel arrangements,” said Robinson, the head of the Justice Department’s criminal division during the Clinton administration. He believes his name matches that of someone who was put on the list in early 2005, and is routinely delayed while flying — despite having his own government top-secret security clearances renewed last year.”

link: Ex-prosecutor on terror list: Fix it

There have been many people who are surprised when they are stopped during their travels and questioned. They find that their names are on this data base. How one removes one’s own name from this list is ambiguous. There is no structured procedure to gain security clearance. For example, in the case of Jim Robinson, he already does have government security clearances. He has been vetted and has passed stringent government procedures.

There are not specific steps that Mr Robinson can undertake to pass through security checkpoints. Should Mr Robinson be in contact with the FBI, the CIA, the Homeland Security Department or some other government agency? Even Mr Robinson would be not be able to unravel this mystery and the secrecy that surrounds it. The procedure to have his name removed is not stated because that too is a security issue. The government is working on it and that is the limit of the disclosure.

Catherine Forsythe