WASHINGTON —  The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) has cautiously welcomed the decision by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to reverse a prior security policy based on national origin or racial profiling. Prior directives targeted individuals, including U.S. citizens, traveling from Muslim majority or Middle Eastern countries, with no regards as to whether these travelers posed individualized threats.  The newly announced policy supersedes the directives implemented this past January.  The new policy shifts the focus from national origin profiling to threat-based intelligence.  The new policy is no longer country specific, but rather applied to all passengers coming to the U.S., regardless of country. ADC says this is a move in the right direction, as national origin profiling has proven to be ineffective ADC is concerned, however, about how the new policy will be implemented.  As reported in the Washington Post, in some cases “screeners will have to rely on their judgment as they consider the listed traits.”   ADC will be requesting assurances from DHS that such judgments are not based on pre-conceived biases or other improper criteria, to implement what appears on its face to be a neutral policy.  Accordingly, ADC will be seeking clarification about the reported “particular travel patterns” screening procedures. ADC will also be seeking clarifications from DHS about the new policy’s implementation and assurances that adequate training and educational instructions will be given to Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) officers.ADC National President, Ms. Sara Najjar-Wilson, stated that, “ADC is very pleased that DHS has rescinded its 14 country protocol and is issuing a new policy that appears to apply equally to all those who travel to the U.S.  ADC continues to be concerned about how the policy will be implemented on the ‘front lines.’  Our previous experiences tell us that, while the policy appears to be neutral on its face, the use of  ‘particular travel patterns’ or ‘personal judgments’  could be applied discriminatorily resulting in adverse treatment to persons of our heritage.  DHS must give assurances that such resultant outcomes of this policy will be avoided.”  Travelers can contact the ADC Legal Department at legal@adc.org, or by calling 202.244.2990.