January 14, 2010 10:50 AM

8-Year-Old Boy Scout Mikey Hicks On Terror Watch List While Underwear Bomber Skates Through

By
Carlin DeGuerin Miller
Topics
Daily Blotter
(CBS)
(AP/CBS)
CLIFTON, N.J. (CBS/AP) Meet Mikey Hicks, public enemy number one, according to a Homeland Security Department watch list.

Photo: Mikey Hicks, 8.

He's also an 8-year-old cub scout who attends parochial school in Clifton, N.J., and has been receiving the third degree from airport security since he was 2-years-old.

"A terrorist can blow his underwear up and they don't catch him. But my 8-year-old can't walk through security without being frisked," his mother, Najlah Hicks, told in reference to the Nigerian man who allegedly tried to blow up a Detroit bound airplane with explosives in his underwear on Christmas Day.

That's because Mikey Hicks shares a name with someone who appears to be among some 13,500 on the large "selectee" list, which sets off a high level of security screening. The list apparently does not specify age or gender.

Photo: Alleged "underwear bomber" Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab.

Najla Hicks, a photojournalist who was once cleared to fly with Vice President Al Gore, said the family was amused by the mistake at first but that quickly wore off and seven years later they are still trying to clear it up.

"I understand the need for security," she added, "But this is ridiculous. It's quite clear that he is 8 years old, and while he may have terroristic tendencies at home, he does not have those on a plane."

More at the New York Times


Add a Comment See all 28 Comments
by BigFDaddy April 2, 2010 8:36 AM EDT
Imagine the braniacs at the airport that would stop and frisk this 8-year old boy JUST BECAUSE HIS EXTREMELY COMMON NAME APPEARS ON A PEICE OF PAPER - I feel safer already.
Reply to this comment
by RedWings_ninety_one January 18, 2010 11:40 AM EST
You never know, that 8-year old seems pretty threatening to me...
Reply to this comment
by testonly4 January 17, 2010 6:57 PM EST
Doesn't the constitution prtotect us from unreasonable searches? Hey, ACLU! Get in involved!
Reply to this comment
by testonly4 January 17, 2010 6:55 PM EST
The name "William Brown" was on the same list a few years ago. Ridiculous when u consider how common that name is and therefor how many valuable inpection hours were wasted. I changed my first name on my tickets to include my middle initial "Williamt" and the dumb TSA security technique was immediately bypassed. Back to "William", now and all is well. Solution is simple. Put the name of every member of Congress and every TSA employee on the same list. Problem would be resolved in two weeks, flat. Guaranteed.
Reply to this comment
by Wookiee-1138 January 17, 2010 4:25 PM EST
Visit any college campus and you'll find Che Guevara fans and Irish Republican sympathisers.
Reply to this comment
by jpburton January 16, 2010 9:45 AM EST
For all you unfortunate people who have young children and grand children on the no-fly list and have been trying for years to get them removed: This sounds like a job for your Congress Persons and US Senators. They have constituent service people on their staffs whose sole purpose in life is to help people out with problems like these. It can work when nothing else can. Government bureaucrats listen when a US Congress Person or Senator's office calls. They control the appropriations. Have you tried calling them? Best of luck!
Reply to this comment
by Mullet_Rapper January 15, 2010 1:20 PM EST
Security for this country is very important the only way I can see to keep all AMERICANS safe would be to deny everyone that is Muslem from boarding a plane to this country. I would let them leave this country without a problem. They would have to be strip searched before getting on a plane. Maybe if we took it that far the Muslems living here would help do something about these terrorist. I have one question for everyone...Can a good Muslem really be a good AMERICAN? The answer is NO. They can't believe in equal rights.
Reply to this comment
by Pinkvalentine January 15, 2010 5:03 PM EST
First learn how to spell Muslim right please before you go insulting them. Your ignorance is showing through.
by steve8313 January 17, 2010 3:55 AM EST
Your question raises another; can a Christian be a good American? The Bible and it's teaches often conflict with the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. At what point do Christians stop being American and start putting their religion first? I believe gay marriage gives a great example of this anti-American, pro-religion double standard. You have one group of people claiming their religion prevents their fellow Americans from the same legal rights they themselves enjoy, yet of Constitution tells us that we are ALL, LEGALY, THE SAME. Sounds like some bad "Americans" to me!
by spillover January 15, 2010 1:04 PM EST
Our politically correct government at work. We're screwed!
Reply to this comment
by blennen January 15, 2010 12:35 PM EST
Here is an idea.. take charge. It is stated that the United States of America is to be run by the people, for the people. The Declaration says that the government should adhere to the voice of the people. Well, you are the people. Do something. File the biggest lawsuit against the government, TSA, et al. Make sure it goes to the highest court in the land. Don't take no for an answer. This can be construed as defamation of character. There is and will be emotional distress and mental distress. What will the repercussions be in the future for these young people tha the government has no concern for because they are too lazy and indolent to get off their fat butts or out of their luxury cars to put the actions and laws in place to eradicate this problem.
Reply to this comment
by beemeejoe January 15, 2010 10:45 AM EST
Our son Jack has been on the list since he was two...
It is impossible to get a mane off the list once it has been placed there.

www.Letjohnfly.com

His real name is John, but we call him Jack...
Last name .... Anderson
Born on the 4th of July...
Does it get much more Yankee Doodle Dandy than that !
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