U.S. Will Tighten Security Screenings for Travelers From 14 Nations

Obama administration officials announced Sunday that travelers from 14 nations, including Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria and Yemen, will face tighter security screenings before flying to the United States, the New York Times reports. The rule change will scale back intensified screenings of American citizens imposed after a Dec. 25 airliner bombing attempt, but is a major step toward a global security system that treats airline passengers differently based on their countries of origin.

People from the 14 countries will automatically be patted down, even if they have lived in a country like Britain for years. In some nations where more advanced screening technology is available, they will be required to undergo full-body scans. The U.K. announced Sunday that it would install the scanners at all of its airports; officials in Amsterdam, the departure city for the Christmas Day flight bound for Detroit, said they would begin using them on all passengers bound for the United States.

"I understand there needs to be additional security in light of what was attempted on Christmas Day," said Nawar Shora of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee. "But this is extreme and very dangerous. All of a sudden people are labeled as being related to terrorism just because of the nation they are from."

The new regulation will have little impact on travelers flying domestically, as passengers mostly use drivers' licenses instead of passports for identification -- meaning screeners do not know their national origin.