Euro-Terror Plots + Visa Waiver = Sober Reminder

By Bill West

The past few days have realized arrests in Denmark and Germany against alleged al-Qaeda linked terror operatives suspected of plotting major attacks against Western targets, including US military facilities and personnel in Germany. Initial reports indicate at least some of the suspects are “native born” European citizens who have recently converted to Islam and attended terrorist training camps, perhaps in Pakistan. This may be one of the nightmare scenarios long held by Western law enforcement and Intelligence agencies actually starting to play out in reality.

Of additional concern to the United States is the fact that any such terror operatives holding European citizenship would “up front” qualify to enter the United States under the questionably generous visa waiver program that requires no visa application pre-screening. If such Euro-terrorists have a previously unknown identity to law enforcement and Intelligence authorities and are not listed in any of the various lookout databases, they would most likely be readily admitted into the US upon arrival at a port of entry.

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff yesterday testified before the House Homeland Security Committee and explained the US VISIT system for tracking the entry and departure of nonimmigrant aliens (such as temporary visitors), including those under the visa waiver system, was still not fully operational. Secretary Chertoff gave only a vague answer concerning how DHS immigration authorities might be able to identify and track nonimmigrant violators and noted, without going into any detail, there was a system of prioritization for targeting such violators. He also testified that DHS mostly relied on school compliance for reporting nonimmigrant student (F-1) violators. Interestingly, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has recently reported the reassignment of some 1000 Special Agents to primary customs investigative duties and away from immigration enforcement.

It is clear the visa waiver program allows for the easy entry into the US of many European citizens and those who hold European passports (legitimately or otherwise). It is also clear the existing immigration enforcement mechanisms for identifying, tracking , locating and apprehending aliens who enter the US in a temporary visa status and then violate that status are questionable, at best. In view of the most recently intercepted European terror plots, these issues are perhaps worth further consideration.

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