Somali-American community leaders in the Twin Cities voiced dismay Wednesday after a Minneapolis manager for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) alleged that they have been targets of racial profiling.
Andrew Rhoades, an assistant federal security director for the TSA, said in congressional testimony that he was pressured by his supervisor earlier this month to profile Somali imams and community members visiting his Twin Cities office.
The allegation sparked a call by Rep. Keith Ellison, D-Minn., for an investigation by the Department of Homeland Security, of which TSA is a part. In a letter to Jeh Johnson, secretary of the department, Ellison cited a New York Times report Wednesday that the TSA supervisor wanted to screen Somali-Americans through national security databases for terrorist ties — "by the same office designed to address their complaints."
The department's Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties is investigating the claims.
In a statement, TSA said it doesn't tolerate racial profiling.
"TSA takes allegations of racial profiling seriously. We are reviewing this complaint and will take appropriate action if there is evidence that any TSA officer acted inappropriately.
"However, it would be unfair and irresponsible to infer or conclude that profiling is a common TSA practice based upon a single interaction between one employee and his supervisor," the statement concludes.
Rhoades told lawmakers during testimony before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee that he resisted his supervisor's order. "Those in the community of Minneapolis know I would never betray their trust by profiling them."