WASHINGTON (AP) Driven by the Paris terror attacks, the House voted overwhelmingly Tuesday to tighten controls on travel to the US and require visas for anyone who’s been in Iraq or Syria in the previous five years.
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By a 407-to-19 margin, the House passed the measure with broad bi-partisan support and the White House has indicated that the president backs the legislation, as well. The House bill, if passed, would bring greater scrutiny to individuals deemed at-risk for potential terrorist activity while also increase information sharing between the US and those 38 countries to limit access for some who have dual citizenship in, or have visited countries where they might have become radicalized.
Citizens of nations participating in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) who are also dual nationals from Iran, Iraq, Syria and Sudan would also not be eligible to participate in the program. Currently, visas are not required for short-term travelers from European countries – including the focal points of the recent Paris attacks, Belgium and France – as well as Japan and South Korea. The topic is a big one on Capitol Hill as well with the US House even passing a bill to add to the nation’s security.
While the bill received bipartisan support from lawmakers, some civil liberties groups warned that the measure was too broadly written and could unfairly exclude people, reports RT. The program allows citizens of those countries, which includes most of Europe as well as Pacific Rim countries like Australia and Japan, to visit the United States for 90 days without a visa. Included in his proposal was to require e-passports with biometric information for all travelers to the U.S.to minimize the chances of forgery.
The House voted through legislation Tuesday that would overhaul the federal visa waiver program.
Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy said there are more than 5,000 people who have gone to Iraq or Syria in the past five years who could conceivably enter the United States right now without any extra security checks – and “those are gaps that we need to fix”. The bill would authorize the Department of Homeland Security to terminate any country’s participation in the program if it doesn’t adequately transmit data.
“Security is critical for travel, which is why the U.S. Travel Association has supported efforts to enhance the already strong VWP for the past six months”.
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“Like my bill to strengthen the vetting of Syrian and Iraqi refugees, today’s legislation is a reasonable, common sense measure to help keep terrorists out and the American people safe”, said Hudson, a second-term Republican.
