House Judiciary Ranking Member Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today joined other Republican members in sending a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Michael Chertoff urging the Department to delay expansion of the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) until the exit portion of U.S.-VISIT is fully implemented.
“I am greatly concerned by DHS’ decision to expand the VWP at this time,” said Ranking Member Smith. “The decision appears inconsistent with the proactive approach that DHS has taken towards the problem of illegal immigration. Instead, it places our nation at risk to terrorists and increased illegal immigration.”
The letter is a response to a DHS announcement that Secretary Chertoff will exercise his authority to expand VWP to citizens of the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Slovakia and South Korea. In addition, according to DHS, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, Malta, Poland and Romania are on track to be admitted to the VWP. According to DHS, Chertoff will exercise this authority no earlier than November 13.
Without an exit tracking system, the expansion could allow individuals to stay in the U.S. undetected to carry out terrorist or other criminal activities and could facilitate illegal immigration.
National security vulnerabilities of the VWP have been widely reported. The move by DHS follows multiple reports by the Justice Department Inspector General, DHS Inspector General and Government Accountability Office, all of which identified areas of concern in the VWP. Additionally, 9/11 conspirator Zacarious Moussaoui, “Shoebomber” Richard Reid, and 1993 World Trade Center conspirator Ahmed Ajaj all entered or attempted to enter the U.S. through the VWP.
Moreover, without a fully-implemented exit program, the VWP facilitates illegal immigration. An estimated 40 percent of illegal immigrants came to the U.S. under the VWP or with temporary visas and simply overstayed their period of lawful admission.
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