The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is under fire today for strip searching a 7-year-old girl at a Texas airport.
Monica Collins was preparing to take off with her family to Philadelphia from the Dallas-Ft. Worth International Airport when TSA agents boarded the airplane and told her parents that she was under suspicion of aiding a terrorist plot.
“They took Monica away without saying where they were taking her," explained Jacqueline Collins, the girl's mother, to local news station KTVT. "I turned around and she was just gone.
"I stopped putting my belt on and yelled to her Dad who was busy collecting all of our belongings. We panicked for 20 minutes before they finally returned her. She was crying with a lollipop in her hand and pants sagging.
"The agents said they didn't find anything, but they kept making snarky comments. I didn't understand what they were saying, but my husband couldn't control his anger."
According to fellow passengers, Mr. Collins proceeded to punch the lead TSA agent in his face and was subsequently tackled by surrounding agents. The mother started hitting the TSA personnel and both were then tasered multiple times.
The father was handcuffed and raised to his feet. The mother cried and embraced her daughter who began to scream. Steve Collins is charged with felony assault and being held on a $500,000 bond. If convicted, he faces two years in federal prison.
No Country for Young Kids
The TSA has long been criticized for its invasive searches of air travelers, especially those concerning senior citizens and children. Critics say that although robust security checks are necessary, a balance must be struck with civil liberties and privacy rights.
In 2011 the agency took steps to minimize pat downs of children by using scanning machines instead. Nevertheless, reports say that the practice still continues. Today's incident appears to be the first example of a full body cavity search, however.
In the midst of the year's busiest traveling season, TSA Executive Administrator John S. Pistole was quick to address the situation.
“We are currently reviewing the altercation between Mr. Collins and one of our TSA agents. We have depositions from all agents involved as well as video surveillance. At first glance, everything seems totally appropriate and above-board, but we'll see what the investigation reveals.
"I can say that we received a report from our friends at NSA that this young lady Googled the word photobomb on her iPhone just minutes before boarding the aircraft.
“Clearly she was planning on using her digital camera as some sort of weapon or detonation device. We had to make sure she wouldn't harm any fellow passengers.”
In contrast to Pistole's defense of his agency's actions, passengers on the flight in question were shocked and horrified by the day's events.
“I couldn't believe what I was seeing,” said Diane Bailey. “I have three children, all grown now. We never had to endure what parents have to endure now. I understand the fear of terrorism but how is molesting a seven year old girl and harassing her parents helping anything? I pray for that little girl every night.”
Mark Harris, a fellow Philadelphian and avid Eagles football fan summed it up: “If the guy can’t get his jollies off because the Cowboys can’t win in December, he needs to find a different outlet.”
