Military

DATE=10/05/01

TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT

TITLE= TERRORISM / VISAS

NUMBER=5-50258

BYLINE=LAURIE KASSMAN

DATELINE=WASHINGTON

INTERNET=YES

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

/// Eds: This is first of two-part series. Second part will focus on tracking foreign students. ///

INTRO: The investigation of the September 11th terrorist attacks has revealed that 16 of the 19 hijackers entered the United States on non-immigrant visas. Several had overstayed their visas. One hijacker had entered on a student visa, but never showed up at the school where he was enrolled. (In the first of a two-part series,) Correspondent Laurie Kassman reports that U-S lawmakers are pushing for measures to better track and identify foreign visitors who abuse, or overstay, their visas.

TEXT: U-S Senator Olympia Snow is blunt about the goal of draft legislation meant to help the State Department and the Immigration and Naturalization Service the I-N-S -- more effectively identify and track visa abuse.

/// SNOW ACT ///

We have to make sure that those who could pose a threat to the United States never enter the United States and never step on our soil.

/// END ACT ///

Immigration experts say the first line of defense are U-S consulates overseas, which have to screen visa applicants.

U-S Senator Christopher Bond is proposing measures to improve the investigation process and introduce electronic identification kits to prevent visa fraud and abuse.

Mr. Bond also wants the I-N-S to keep better track of non-immigrant visa holders, once they arrive in the United States.

/// BOND ACT ///

This tracking system gives law enforcement one more tool to be able to identify somebody who is here illegally, and potentially subject to the more expedited procedures that the I-N-S has for getting potentially dangerous alien visitors out of the country.

/// END ACT ///

That may be easier said than done. The State Department issued more than seven-million non-immigrant visas last year alone, to tourists, business travelers and students.

The I-N-S has been testing an automated visa tracking system, but it does not yet cover all ports of entry.

Former I-N-S lawyer Paul Virtue says the I-N-S currently lacks the resources to track foreign visitors effectively.

/// VIRTUE ACT ///

There are a little over two-thousand I-N-S special agents, who are the police officers responsible for policing a number of immigration issues within the United States. Their principle role is to identify and remove people who commit crimes in the United States. But, they also are responsible for investigating and prosecuting fraud, as well as any smuggling, and (imposing) sanctions against (U-S) employers for hiring people (illegal immigrants) without authorization. So, they have a lot on their plate (a lot to do), and there are very few of them.

/// END ACT ///

An automated tracking system also would not cover the hundreds-of-thousands of visitors from 29 countries, whose citizens do not need U-S visas to travel to the United States. Many more people hold multiple-entry visas, which are valid for several years.

Immigration experts also point out that freedom of movement also makes it difficult to monitor suspicious visitors, who may change or falsify addresses during their stay.

Lawmakers are urging better coordination and more information-sharing among the I-N-S, State Department and law enforcement agencies, to weed out suspected criminals. (Signed)

NEB/LMK/TW