Thread: Govt. Denies Danger In Visa Waivers

Government denies danger in visa waivers By GEORGE GEDDA, Associated Press Writer
Wed May 2, 8:16 PM ET



WASHINGTON - The State Department rejected on Wednesday suggestions that some terror suspects could have easy access to the United States because of rules that do not require citizens of select countries to obtain visas.


Questions about access to the U.S. by extremists from so-called visa waiver countries arose this week following the sentencing of five Britons to life prison terms after their convictions in London in a terrorist bomb plot.

The ringleader was Omar Khyam, who is of Pakistani descent.

The five Britons, after a yearlong trial, were convicted of plotting to attack the London targets with bombs made from a half-ton stockpile of fertilizer. Prosecutors and an FBI informant claimed the group was linked to al-Qaida leaders.

State Department spokesman Tom Casey told reporters that residence in a visa waiver country does not necessarily guarantee access to the United States.

He said the government has a whole series of tools to stop "people of concern" who may want to travel to the United States.

"We do what we can to make sure the program is not abused by individuals. We want to make sure that no one is slipping through," Casey said.

As part of U.S. security measures, American officials scrutinize before takeoff lists of individuals planning U.S. visits, Casey said, and there is an additional review post-arrival.

"Someone who comes to the border, whether they are from a visa waiver country or whether they have a visa in their passport, does have to pass through screening from the immigration control and enforcement service at ports of entry," Casey said.

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff conferred a month ago with British Home Secretary John Reid on the phenomenon of homegrown terrorists and radicalization.

Russ Knocke, a Homeland Security spokesman, ruled out the possibility that racial profiling will be employed in making determinations on which travelers could constitute potential threats. The sole criteria is behavior, he said.

He added that the administration has been talking with Congress about strengthening the visa waiver program.

Legislation pending in Congress would allow the program to admit new countries, while requiring all participating countries to impose closer scrutiny of their passports to ensure they're not lost, stolen or easily counterfeited.

President Bush has said he favors adding countries to the 27 already on the visa waiver list, all but four of which are European.



http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070503/ap_ ... isa_waiver

President Bush has said he favors adding countries to the 27 already on the visa waiver list, all but four of which are European.

In other words, tourism and commerce take priority over national security.