WASHINGTON, Nov. 7 (UPI) -- The U.S. Homeland Security Department said more than 15,000 people have lobbied the government since February to have their names taken off a terror watch list.
The department said the complaints have created a large backlog of appeals to be removed from the terrorist watch list, which restricts travel at airports and border crossings, USA Today reported Wednesday.
Members of Congress are calling for swifter appeals system to help people whose names are on the list to clear their names and avoid future incidents.
"To leave individuals in this purgatory is un-American," U.S. Rep. Yvette Clarke, D-N.Y., who announced plans to introduce legislation aimed at streamlining the process, told USA Today.
Toddlers and senior citizens who share names with suspected terrorists on the list often find themselves with difficulty traveling by air.
Christopher White, spokesman for the Transportation Security Administration, said in the article the department receives about 2,000 requests every month for appeals and the process usually takes about 44 days.
