American pilot sues US Homeland Security Department

20 August, 2008, 14:40

An American pilot is suing the U.S. Homeland Security Department claiming that his name is on the government’s terrorist watch list. Erich Scherfen is a convert to Islam.

His lawsuit says that, together with his Pakistan-born wife, who is also a Muslim, he has repeatedly been subjected to searches, questioning and detention at airports and border crossings since 2006.

In April he was suspended by his employer, Colgen Air Inc. The airline company gave the fact that his name was on the terrorist watch list as a reason. For the first two weeks of his suspension Scherfen got paid but he’s currently on unpaid leave and expects to lose his job if his name is not taken off the list by the end of August.

A Gulf War combat veteran, Schefren claims that the government’s actions have violated his constitutional rights. Now he faces losing not only his job but the ability to make a living in his chosen profession.

So far his attempts to resolve the situation through the government have been unsuccessful. The suit has been filed but a hearing, let alone a decision, has not yet been scheduled.