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House
Passes Sensenbrenner Border and Visa Security Legislation
WASHINGTON,
Dec. 19, 2004/U.S. Newswire/ -- The House today by voice vote passed
legislation aimed at tightening a U.S. immigration system
that has been abused by some illegal aliens in their efforts
to harm innocent Americans. H.R. 3525 was introduced by House
Judiciary Committee Chairman F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr. (R-Wis.)
and is very similar to legislation sponsored in the Senate
by Sens. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.), Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.), Sam
Brownback (R-Kan.) and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.).
"The
September 11th terrorist attacks vividly illustrate how acutely
vulnerable our immigration system is to exploitation by those
aliens who wish to harm Americans. This legislation makes
needed changes to our immigration laws such as requiring new
biometric visas and strengthening the foreign student tracking
system. Such efforts will have a real impact in fighting terrorism
and preventing exploitation of our immigration laws in the
future," said Sensenbrenner.
Highlights
to H.R. 3525, the Enhanced Border Security and Visa Reform
Act include:
--
Strengthening the foreign student tracking system by requiring
that it track:
- the
acceptance of aliens by educational institutions;
- the
issuance of visas to the aliens;
- the
admission into the U.S. of the aliens and the notification
of these educational institutions of the admittance of these
aliens; and
- the
enrollment of the aliens at the institutions.
--
Requiring the State Department by Oct. 26, 2003 to only issue
to aliens visas and other travel documents that are tamper-resistant
and machine-readable using standardized biometric identifiers.
Aliens entering the U.S. under the visa waiver program will
have to possess passports with the same features (if issued
after this date). By the same date (Oct. 26, 2003) the INS
must install scanners to read the biometric documents at all
ports of entry. The INS must implement an integrated entry
and exit data system (for nationals of countries other than
Canada) containing arrival and departure data from these documents.
--
Requiring U.S. embassies and consulates to utilize terrorist
lookout committees in order to ensure that the names of known
terrorists are routinely and consistently brought to the attention
of consular officials.
--
Barring nationals of countries that are state sponsors of
terrorism from receiving temporary visas unless it has been
determined that the aliens do not pose a threat to the safety
of Americans or the national security of the U.S.
--
Providing an electronic data system that allows current and
immediate access for consular officers and INS officials to
information in databases of U.S. law enforcement agencies
and the intelligence community.
--
Authorizing an additional 200 INS inspectors and 200 INS investigative
personnel for each of the fiscal years 2002 through 2006.
Also increases the pay and training of INS personnel, including
Border Patrol agents, and beefs up consular offices at U.S.
embassies. $150 million is authorized for the INS for improving
technology at the border.
Contact:
Jeff Lungren or Terry Shawn, 202-225-2492, both of the House
Judiciary Committee
Web site: http://www.house.gov/judiciary
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