Included in the bill, which had received a 407 to 19 vote in support of the changes to the visa waiver program, is the denial of visa free travel for people who have been in Syria or Iraq for the past five years.
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Countries in the visa waiver program would be required to share counterterrorism information with the United States.
House lawmakers passed laws to refuse visa-free traveling to anybody who has been in the past five years in Syria or Iraq.
The White House announced its support of the bill following the coordinated terror attacks which took place in various locations across Paris on November 13, after it was found that attackers had been radicalised whilst in Syria. It adds new restrictions on a visa waiver program that now allows 20 million people into the country every year.
Mike Bishop, the 8th District Representative agrees, saying “Congress must be proactive to keep American families safe”. This bill would require VWP countries to check travelers against INTERPOL to determine if a traveler is wanted or if a fraudulent passport is being used.
While the Obama administration has resisted attempts by Congress to slow down the Syrian refugee program, they have appeared to find some common ground when it comes to increasing the security of our visa waiver process. The Visa Waiver Program is another area where vulnerabilities need to be strengthened. France and Belgium are among the countries that participate in the program.
“The tragic San Bernardino terrorist attack has reminded us that our visa system isn’t immune to abuse by those who wish to harm our nation”, said Rep. Steve Womack, (R) Arkansas – 3rd District.
“A radical with a French passport or a Belgian passport can get on a plane in Brussels or Paris today and come to America no questions asked, be here for 90 days, without us knowing any better”, House Speaker Paul Ryan said Monday on The Big AM 1380, a radio station in Janesville, Wisconsin.
Schultz was responding to demands by President Obama, Democratic presidential frontrunner Hillary Clinton, and most Republican presidential hopefuls, that Silicon Valley collaborate directly with U.S. intelligence agencies in policing the Internet, including turning over information on the clients of companies like Google when the U.S. government demands it.
However, the House bill is much different than its Senate version, which was authored by Senators Dianne Feinstein (Democrat from California) and Jeff Flake (Republican from Arizona).
Iranian-American and Syrian-American community leaders reacted with alarm to the bill, fearful its effect will ultimately boomerang back against U.S. dual citizens.
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Although introduced by a Republican, the bill did receive bipartisan support. “This is a good bill, it’s one that’s time has come”, said Rep. Bennie Thompson of MS, top Democrat on the House Committee on Homeland Security.
