TSA agents, for instance, may claim that rules require them to touch your turban or patka. If you are denied the opportunity to pat-down your own articles of faith, or feel that you have otherwise been subjected to discrimination, take note of the officer’s name and immediately file a complaint right from your smartphone or laptop by using the
website. Your reports of discrimination through FlyRights are a critical means of holding the TSA accountable.
In addition to bookmarking FlyRights, we urge those with travel plans to review the Sikh Coalition’s
TSA: Know Your Rights Guide, which is vetted by the TSA and is compatible with the latest TSA screening procedures and regulations. The resource is
completely free to download and available in English and Punjabi, containing detailed information on airport screening procedures and your rights as a traveler. The Sikh Coalition remains committed to holding the TSA accountable, both through sharing resources like these and our broader advocacy, including the ongoing development of a comprehensive, updated training for TSA agents, prior
testimony on Capitol Hill in 2019, and supporting the
Screening with Dignity Act to address discriminatory profiling at our nation’s airports against religious minorities, racial minorities, and transgender travelers.
Note that some travelers have reported that they experience less secondary screening with enrollment in the
TSA Pre✓® program. Additionally, you can request copies of our
“The Sikhs” educational brochures before you travel internationally. This free resource is available in 18 different languages. To get free printed copies of this or any other resource, please email
contact@sikhcoalition.org.
Finally, it is important to consider your health if you plan on travelling amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. You can review our summary of the Centers for Disease Control’s April travel guidance for fully vaccinated individuals in
English or
Punjabi; we also have information about the Biden Administration’s policies with respect to
vaccination for international travellers, effective earlier this month. You can find other relevant
COVID-19 and
vaccine information on our website.
As always, the Sikh Coalition urges you to practice your faith fearlessly.
