... passengers would be subjected to bag searches, pat downs, questioning and referrals to immigration with bogus behaviors invented by the screeners to cover up the real reason the passengers were singled out.
...
Though the Boston report does not say how many BDOs in Newark were racially profiling passengers, it leaves no doubt that the practice was widespread, lasting from early 2008 to late 2009, when investigators began looking into the issue....

The report found that managers’ emphasis on referrals created a perception among BDOs that there was a quota system in place, and that promotions depended on their producing high numbers.