US Bans Its Victims from Entering USA

Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit

[Can't have real people visiting Disneylandia, telling too much truth.
The citizenry might stir from their slumber. How long before the
worms in Washington tell Yankees "You can't go anywhere, either" ?? ]

Agence France Press - 19 April, 2002

US Senate Unanimously Bans Visitors from "State Sponsors of Terrorism"

by Maxim Kniazkov

WASHINGTON, April 19 (AFP) - The US Senate, still reeling from the
September 11 attacks, moved late Thursday to bar visitors from
countries formally declared sponsors of terrorism, and tighten
control over foreign students coming to the United States.

The Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry Reform Act, passed
unanimously (97-0) by the Senate, prohibits admission of people from
Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Syria, Sudan and North Korea unless they are
coming to the United States as immigrants.

However, the US secretary of state will have the option of granting a
waiver to those deemed not a risk to US national security.

The measure marked another step by Congress to bolster domestic
security in the wake of the September 11 attacks, which were carried
out by terrorists who managed to enter the United States legally.

"We know it is unconscionable for our systems to allow entry of
another terrorist into the United States," said California Democratic
Senator Dianne Feinstein during the debate preceding the vote.
"Unless we move on this bill, we cannot possibly remedy the faults in
our system."

It was not immediately known how many people would be affected by the
new restrictions.

As many as 16,000 nationals from Iran, Iraq, Sudan, Libya, and Syria
have entered the United States as students over the past 10 years,
according to congressional officials.

The measure also significantly tightens control over foreign students
studying in US universities and colleges.

It requires the State and Justice Departments to closely monitor
these students' arrivals, enrolment into classes as well as their
dropping out.

If the bill becomes law, which is largely expected, universities will
be asked to report foreign students not showing up for classes to
immigration authorities.

"Several of the people who terrorized us, bombed us on September 11
were students," recalled Republican Senator Brownback. "We need to
get that procedure under control and know where these students are
and if they are going to reputable schools in the United States."

A total 660,000 foreign nationals held US student visas late last
year, said congressional officials.

The bill, which has already been passed by the House of
Representatives in two separate versions, also provides for hiring
new immigration agents, making passports more tamper-resistant,
installing new detectors and other security devices along US borders
and closer scrutiny of visa applicants.

Lawmakers pointed out in the course of the debate that 41 of the 47
foreign-born individuals who were charged, pleaded guilty or were
convicted of involvement in terrorism on US soil in the last 10 years
had been approved for a visa by an American consulate overseas at
some point.

President George W. Bush, who made the war on terror the cornerstone
of his presidency, welcome the Senate vote.

"Improving our nation's border security is vital to protecting
Americans from future terrorist attacks," he said in a statement.

He said the legislation "gives our law enforcement officials
additional tools to secure our homeland."

"Even if we are on the right track, we'll get run over if we just sit
there."

Copyright (c) 2002 by Agence France-Presse
 
=================================================================
  NY Transfer News Collective   *   A Service of Blythe Systems 
           Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us          
              339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012             
  http://www.blythe.org                  e-mail: nyt@blythe.org 
=================================================================
 
nytact-04.20.02-16:23:33-10449