Fox News Contributor Stephen Hayes On DHS Terrorist Watchlist

Fox News contributor Stephen Hayes, who is a columnist for the conservative magazine The Weekly Standard, recently admitted to his Twitter followers that he is on the Department of Homeland Security’s terrorist watchlist.

On his last two airline trips, he realized he had to go through extra screening. He discovered he was on the watch list when he called Southwest to ask why he wasn’t originally allowed to check in and then later subjected to a full pat-down as the workers closed down his lane and examined all of his luggage.

According to Politico, Hayes believes DHS placed him on the list because of concerns about Syria. He recently booked a one-way trip to Turkey with a return flight through Athens, Greece.

Hayes further explained when he tried to file a redress about the designation through DHS’s website, the process was confusing and ultimately the form couldn’t be processed.

If a prominent journalist being suspected as a terrorist for traveling doesn’t raise concerns for Americans about DHS’s power and frequently unwarranted zeal to find suspects, then nothing will. Admittedly, all the reasoning behind the department’s decision about Hayes is unknown, but thousands of people are put on the list for minimal cause, including Nelson Mandela in 2008.

Before The Weekly Standard, Hayes was a senior writer for National Journal’s Hotline. His writing has also been featured in the New York Post, Washington Times, National Review, and other notable publications. He regularly comments about foreign policy, so his travels to Turkey make sense and this background information should have debunked DHS’s suspicion.

What makes the power frightening is the provision of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2012 that allows for indefinite suspension of anyone suspected of terrorism, including U.S. citizens on American soil. If the government is going to wield that kind of power, which is unconstitutional in nature, it’s fair to say that the causes and reasoning for being put on a terrorist watchlist should be more thorough and just.

Fox News Contributor Stephen Hayes On DHS Terrorist Watchlist