Law enforcement officers' ability to track those suspected of being involved with terror groups is hindered by concerns about possible racial profiling charges, R. James Woolsey, former director of Central Intelligence, told CNBC on Monday.
"We don't really have a very good system for staying on top of people who get reported unless they are shown to be violent," Woolsey said in a "Squawk Box" interview.
While the constitutional right to freedom of religion needs to be protected, those who show interest in using their faith to wage a holy war should not be, he added.
"[Officers] are scared of being charged with Islamophobia or something if they stay on top of somebody who happens to be a Muslim after there's some reporting until there's violence."