March 28, 2017
Department of Homeland Security issues new security enhancement measures
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced new security enhancement measures on March 21. Travelers from or via certain airports to the U.S. will be required to check in all electronic items larger than a cellphone. The new measures do not affect U.S. domestic flights or to flights departing from the U.S.
The changes apply to all flights departing for the U.S. from 10 specific airports:
- Queen Alia International Airport (AMM) — Jordan
- Cairo International Airport (CAI) — Egypt
- Ataturk International Airport (IST) — Turkey
- King Abdul-Aziz International Airport (JED) — Saudi Arabia
- King Khalid International Airport (RUH) — Saudi Arabia
- Kuwait International Airport (KWI) — Kuwait
- Mohammed V Airport (CMN) — Morocco
- Hamad International Airport (DOH) — Qatar
- Dubai International Airport (DXB) — United Arab Emirates
- Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH) — United Arab Emirates
Examples of items that will no longer be allowed in the cabin include laptops, tablets, e-readers, cameras, portable DVD players, electronic game units larger than a cellphone, travel printers and scanners.
If you are traveling with university-owned devices or university data on personal devices:
- Consider if electronic devices are necessary for their travel, and leave unnecessary devices behind.
- Remove all sensitive data and proprietary information from devices that is not pertinent to their travel.
- Encrypt devices, especially if you must take sensitive or proprietary data.
- Choose strict passwords for devices and online accounts.
- Back up all data.
- Ensure that your devices remain fully charged in case you are required to enable them for inspection.
The United Kingdom has implemented similar measures for all inbound flights to the U.K. from Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Tunisia and Saudi Arabia.
Read details of the security announcement from DHS.
If you have questions, please contact Rose Ndegwa, export controls compliance officer, at 785-532-3224 or rndegwa@k-state.edu, or visit the University Research Compliance Office website.