US visas get new scrutiny after California, Paris attacks

The GOP measure, which is supported by top House Democrats and the White House, would also require visa waiver countries to share information with USA authorities about suspected terrorists, according to Reuters. More than 20 million visitors enter the country through the program each year, more than one-third of all foreign tourists. “There are some countries that do not require passports to have those, and we are basically saying that unless you have this capability, you can not participate in the Visa Waiver Program”. VWP utilizes a layered system of security to detect and prevent terrorists, serious criminals, and other potentially unsafe individuals from traveling to the United States. What we can not support are steps that ultimately dismantle the program and set back America’s economy and our efforts to protect the homeland. But the case of Tashfeen Malik, the female shooter in the San Bernardino, Calif., terrorist attack, is an unsettling example of how even someone who arrives in the U.S.as the spouse of an American may in fact be a twisted fanatic willing to abandon her baby in order to shed innocent life.

“This legislation will help close gaping security gaps and improve our ability to stop unsafe individuals before they reach our shores”, said Republican Representative Michael McCaul, chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee.

The threat of terrorism may tighten up who gets into the US.

The visa waiver program is based on the diplomatic standard of reciprocity, and if the United States creates exceptions to its program for certain European nationals, the EU is likely to do the same for USA nationals. VWP countries would be required to issue their citizens fraud-resistant electronic passports containing biometric information, confirm such documents are legitimate when they are scanned upon travel, and notify INTERPOL within 24 hours of their citizens’ passport being reported missing.

“In the aftermath of the Paris attacks, perpetrated partially by radicalized citizens from visa waiver countries, it is clear that more must be done to ensure Americans’ safety”, added Rep. Vicky Hartzler, (R) Missouri – 4th District.

The problem is the fact that the majority of the Paris attackers were citizens of France and Belgium.

The new restriction would hamper travel for those who live in foreign nations now under the visa waiver program who would otherwise be able to travel to the United States visa-free.

At least two accused terrorists – shoe bomber Richard Reid and 9/11 co-conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui – entered the USA through the Visa Waiver Program.

The gun prohibition was not part of a bill passed by the House Tuesday that imposes new restrictions on the Visa Waiver Program. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., and Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., would require fingerprints of visa-waiver travelers to be collected overseas. “Our focus should be on terrorism, not just country or origin”, he said.