United States Returns to Code Yellow
Posted Jan 23, 2004

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Tom Ridge announced on January 9, 2004 that the U.S. Threat Level dropped to Code Yellow from Code Orange. Each level relates to the security measures that cities and the federal government are required to implement. Of course, these security measures include the Ports of Entry (POEs) and general airport domestic travel security.

Red is the highest level of alert. Fortunately, we have not faced red alerts since the system was put into place. We have been at a Code Orange level of alert four times since September 11, 2001. While there are two lower levels of security alerts – blue and green – most of the time the U.S. has been at the Code Yellow, or elevated, level.

The levels currently exist at a national level. If there is a credible threat against points of interest in California, for example, the entire nation is raised to the next highest level of alert. There are currently proposals to have regional alert levels in addition to the national levels of alerts so that, if only one area is threatened, the entire U.S. will not need to have increased security. This may mean that foreign nationals entering at some POEs will face shorter lines if the security levels in their areas are lower than the security levels in other regions. Because the regional security levels are merely proposed at this point, travelers should assume that security measures will be uniform at all POEs and at airport security screening for domestic travel. The general rule of arriving at the airport with sufficient time to go through security screening before a flight’s departure still applies. Of course, one must be mindful of the items prohibited and bring limited carry-on luggage.