Why would someone be on a government watch list?

Government watch list checks identify people who are suspected terrorists or are otherwise barred from working within specific industries by federal or state governments.



A person is typically placed on a government watch list (such as the US No Fly List or the Terrorist Screening Database) if there is "reasonable suspicion" that they are involved in, or have connections to, terrorist activity, organized crime, or espionage. In 2026, these lists are managed by multi-agency centers like the FBI's TSC. Reasons for inclusion can range from making direct threats against national security to frequenting known extremist training sites or being flagged by international intelligence agencies like INTERPOL. However, names are also added due to identity theft or "near-match" errors where an innocent person shares a name with a suspect. Inclusion on a watch list triggers enhanced screening at borders or a total ban on air travel. To ensure due process, the government provides "Redress" programs (like DHS TRIP) where individuals can appeal their status if they believe they have been wrongly flagged or "misidentified."

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If you are a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, and the TSC determines that you are on the No Fly List, DHS TRIP will send you a letter informing you of your status on the No Fly List and providing the option to submit and receive additional information.

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If you see the SSSS code on your boarding pass it means you have been selected for extra security screenings, which may take additional time.

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An SSSS code on your boarding pass might happen for a few specific reasons but it can also be the result of a completely random assignment. However, many of the main reasons someone is flagged for an additional screening may be connected to being a suspected security risk.

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As of 2011, the list contained about 10,000 names. In 2012, the list more than doubled in size, to about 21,000 names. In August 2013, a leak revealed that more than 47,000 people were on the list. In 2016, California Senator Dianne Feinstein disclosed that 81,000 people were on the No Fly List.

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As shown in more detail below, this additional screening could be caused by things like: Your name matching a name of interest in a database. You raising suspicions while going through airport security. Your bag getting flagged when going through an x-ray machine.

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Why Does the TSA Swab Hands? The Transportation Security Administration randomly swabs passengers' hands at security checkpoints and airport gates to test them for traces of explosives. The TSA swabs are analyzed for nitroglycerin, nitrates, glycerin, or other chemicals.

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What Is “Secondary Security Screening Selection” (SSSS)? According to the TSA, any passenger with the four-letter code on their boarding pass can be swabbed for residue of illegal substances, such as drugs or explosives. Those passengers will also face additional questioning over travel plans and previous trips.

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It all depends on the country and the airport. Some metal detectors and scanners are set to give a false positive signal at random intervals, leading to a personal search, but in many instances what are declared to be random searches are not that at all.

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Instead of printing it, and displaying it as though it were a watermark on the card stock, it will be in the bottom left hand corner and inside of a circle. Black means elite status or other 'priority access' eligibility, and if it isn't shaded black it displays your boarding group.

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