Visa Waiver Is Not the Security Risk
by Mark Luedtke

http://www.daytoncitypaper.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=3178

Two weeks ago critics attacked George Bush because America was voted the most unfriendly country to visit. They said American security policies are too painful for international travelers to the U.S. Today critics are attacking George Bush because he wants to make it easier for citizens of our new European allies to visit the United States. He can't win. President Bush has provided plenty of reasons for us to criticize him, but this is ridiculous.

The 20 year old visa-waiver program was created to improve U.S. security by freeing consulate resources to focus on real security threats instead of laboriously providing visas for every foreign traveler to the country. Visitors from our European allies and a handful of other allies need only their valid passports to come to the U.S. Upon arrival they are documented, fingerprinted, and photographed for security purposes.

We reward our allies with the visa-waiver benefit, and they reciprocate, strengthening both countries. It's a valuable foreign policy tool, and 15 million visitors per year already come to the U.S. on visa-waiver, generating over 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 billion in revenue. The new European Union countries want closer ties to the U.S., they want rewarded for their support in the War on Terror, and the visa-waiver program is a great reward for them and a strategic boon for us.

Russian President Putin's authoritarian regime is rolling back democracy in Russia, and he constantly threatens these fledgling democracies on his border in Eastern Europe. The U.S. refuses to confront Putin despite his actions, and therefore we provide precious little support for these countries against Russia's strong-arm tactics. The visa-waiver program is a non-confrontational way to provide support and generate closer ties to these allies that desperately need our support, as much as we need them as checks on Putin's totalitarian designs.

There are still some security flaws in the visa-waiver program, and it was exploited by the 20th hijacker, Zacarias Moussaoui. Security has been improved since then by requiring biometric information on participants and the infamous intrusive security at U.S. ports of entry, but it can never be perfect. Homeland Security does not have enough staff to insure the compliance of all the member countries, but these allies in the War on Terror have their own security checks.

Critics of the security aspects of the visa-waiver program should focus their efforts on the far more dangerous security problems posed by Canada and Mexico. In 2005, the U.S. State Department reported, “Terrorists have capitalized on liberal Canadian immigration and asylum policies to enjoy safe haven, raise funds, arrange logistical support, and plan terrorist attacks.”

Nearly 15 million visitors to the U.S. come from Canada each year, and while the U.S. now requires a passport for entry, the security procedures at the Canadian border are more lax than those at points of entry for visa-waiver participants. Many checkpoints are unequipped with biometric checks, and border agents are few even compared to our Mexican border.

The thousands of miles long Canadian border is often called the world's longest undefended border. Hiking and biking trails cross the border, as do lakes and waterways. Members of terrorist groups including Hezbollah and Hamas have received sanctuary in Canada. Terrorists have a long history of launching plots from Canada, including the millennium terror plot.

A similar situation exists on the Mexican border, crossed by nearly 13 million visitors per year. Many crossing points are not equipped with biometrics, and border security is further compromised by the corruption from Mexican drug cartels, funded by our war on drugs. Hezbollah and al Qaeda agents have been captured at the Mexican border, so we know more have crossed it.

But all these security risks pale in comparison to the undocumented illegal aliens coming across our Mexican border. President Bush has allowed a million illegal immigrants to enter the country every year since 9/11. Bush has encouraged more illegal immigrants to come to the U.S. by proposing we reward those already here with citizenship. Every time Bush mentions granting citizenship to illegals aliens, he encourages a million more Hispanics to pack their bags and move north, hoping for the same. No passport required.

Unfortunately, it's not just Hispanics. Arab terrorists hide perfectly in that human flood. Hugo Chavez is reportedly providing terrorists with papers and instructions on how to exploit our southern border. Our war on drugs has made the Mexican drug cartels so rich they control our border, not the U.S. Those cartels and coyotes, human smugglers, have no qualms about smuggling terrorists and their equipment into America.

A cottage industry has grown up based on criticizing President Bush that distracts from the real policy debates we should have in this country. In the post 9/11 world, real security should be a priority, but we won't find security by harassing good citizens of our allies who want to visit our country. Those visitors provide American jobs, create goodwill, and strengthen strategic alliances. The greater security problems are our borders with our neighbors, and the undocumented invaders of our country.

http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/without/without_1990.html

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/id_visa/vwp/vwp.xml

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/news/2006-11-28-bush-visa_x.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_Waiver_Program

http://www.economist.com/world/na/displayStory.cfm?story_id=2144750

http://washingtontimes.com/national/20061129-121704-2202r.htm

http://www.visabureau.com/america/news/28-11-2006/bush-vows-to-expand-visa-waiver-program.aspx

http://www.fairus.org/site/PageServer?pagename=leg_legislatione7f9

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illegal_immigration_to_the_United_States

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/8cb19f90-78c8-11db-8743-0000779e2340.html

http://tinet.ita.doc.gov/view/f-2004-31-001/index.html

http://tinet.ita.doc.gov/view/f-2005-422-001/index.html

http://tinet.ita.doc.gov/view/f-2005-422-001/index.html

http://tinet.ita.doc.gov/view/f-2005-147-001/index.html

http://www.tia.org/researchpubs/eNewsline_april14_2004.html#2

http://mwcnews.net/content/view/6091/203/

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/trail/etc/fake.html

http://www.stratfor.com/products/premium/login.php?err=3&prodid=&subid=&url=/products/premium/read_article.php?id=265623

http://www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2006/3/30/223801.shtml

http://www.commondreams.org/views06/1126-20.htm