The attempt on Christmas day of the so-called underwear bomber to blow up a plane on its way to Detroit has raised worldwide concern about passenger no-fly lists, increased airport security checks, and civil liberties. Two recent survey-based studies conducted in the United States before the Christmas day event shed light on Americans’ attitudes toward racial/ethnic profiling in airports.

Airport racial/ethnic profiling is defined as the targeting of certain people, based on perceptions of their race/ethnicity, for additional scrutiny by criminal justice officials.

Using 2004 Gallup poll data, researchers asked whether Blacks, Latinos (referred to in the study as Hispanics), and Whites feel that racial/ethnic profiling is widespread in airports and whether or not it is justified. Blacks were significantly more likely than Whites and Latinos to state that they believe that such profiling is widespread in airports. There were no differences between Whites and Latinos on this question. Two other significant variables appeared: older people are less likely to perceive widespread profiling in airports and liberals are more likely to do so.

Whites are significantly more likely to believe that airport ethnic/racial profiling is justified. Other variables appeared as significant: males, people with children in school, and more religious people are more likely to believe that profiling is justified. Liberals and people who live in suburbs are less likely to feel profiling is justified.

The second study first compares support for ethnic profiling in the U.S. as a counter-terrorism tactic with support for profiling Black motorists. The researcher uses the 21st Century Americanism Survey, a national, random telephone survey conducted in 2004.

Results show that support for counterterrorism profiling is higher than support for profiling Black motorists. Another finding is that people are more supportive of profiling immigrants than of U.S. citizens. The most powerful predictor for profiling was being a White American Christian. Other important variables are lower levels of education, being a Republican, fearing being a victim of an attack, and being proud to be an American.

Both studies demonstrate that those who are least likely to experience airport profiling are most supportive of it. Clearly, racial/ethnic profiling exists in U.S. airports and disproportionately causes discomfort to many non-white passengers who for one reason or another “fit” the profile. Has it worked to deter any potential terrorists? We don’t have an answer to that question. Should all passengers be subject to equal scrutiny? Yes.

Otherwise, you risk letting the Salahis into the White House, metaphorically speaking.

Image: “DIA Security Line” by Flickr user michanne5, licensed by Creative Commons.