Navdeep Bains, Canada's Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, had a difficult time getting through airport security during an April 2017 visit to the U.S. — all because of his turban.
The Sikh Canadian diplomat recounted his story in an interview with the Canadian online newspaper La Presse, which is published in French. According to his account, Bains was on his way back to Toronto from a two-day trip where he met with Michigan's Republican Governor Rick Snyder.
Bains passed through the metal detector but because he was wearing a turban, he was asked to go through additional security.
The U.S. Transportation Security Administration passed regulations in 2007 to allow Sikh men to keep their turbans on at airports. However, additional security measures might include a swab test.
"But the agent was having trouble running the machine. And all of a sudden, the machine emitted a warning sound, which was caused by an unknown element. The officer then stated that he needed to do additional searches. He then asked me to remove my turban. I asked him why I had to remove my turban when the metal detector gantry had worked well, " Bains told La Presse.
"I told him it was the machine that was not working well. I asked him to repeat the sampling test again. And if there is a problem, we can consider other options because I think it's an intrusion into my private life. I will never be asked to take off my clothes. It's the same thing. It's a piece of linen,” he added.
At this point Bains still had not revealed his diplomatic passport.
"But I never told them who I was, because I wanted to know how things would go for people who are not ministers or lawmakers," he explained.
The situation only escalated from there, unfortunately.
Once he arrived at his boarding gate, a security officer approached him at the gate and told him he had to return to the security checks.
"A security guard came to get me to say that I had to go back to security checks. I asked him what was happening. He told me that the security protocol had not been followed. He said to me, ‘Therefore, you must take off your turban.’ I politely replied that I did not represent a security threat and that I had passed all security checks. He then asked for my name and identification. I reluctantly handed him my diplomatic passport,” Bains explained in the interview released on Friday.
Once the agents realized his identity, they made calls, according to the interview, and finally gave him clearance to leave. In a statement to CNN, Bains explained: “wearing the turban is considered one of the most dutiful acts for a person of the faith.”
“I am proud to represent my community,” he added. “Unfortunately these types of incidents do occur from time to time to minorities in particular. But it should never become the norm. I will continue to promote diversity and inclusion across the country as our government has done since we took office."
Since the report, TSA has issued an apology to Bains. In a statement to CNN, TSA spokesman Michael McCarthy said they “regret the screening experience.”
"We regret the screening experience did not meet the expectations of Mr. Bains," McCarthy said. "Upon review of airport closed-circuit video, we determined that the officer conducting the screening did not follow standard operating procedures and therefore received additional training."
“All persons wearing head coverings may be subject to additional security screening, which may include an officer-conducted or self-conducted pat-down,” he added. “TSA does this to ensure that prohibited items or weapons are not concealed beneath any type of clothing and brought onto an aircraft. This policy covers all headwear and is not directed at any one particular item or group."
Some lawmakers are taking action to propose solutions to America’s racial profiling problem.
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., introduced a bill this week that would require border patrol and immigration enforcement agents to document every instance when they stop, search, or interrogate people on buses and trains.
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