Officials from the US Department of Homeland Security are working in the visa section of the US Embassy in Saudi Arabia to spot applications from potential militants, a spokesman for the embassy told the Associated Press yesterday. Spokesman John Burgess said the Homeland Security agents, who arrived about a month ago, have access to databases that US consular staff do not enjoy, and they can therefore trace suspected extremists more efficiently.
As opposed to the Visa Express program.
âThey are to be part of the process of evaluating applications to determine the suitability of issuing visas,â Burgess told AP in a telephone interview from Riyadh. In Washington, Homeland Security spokesman Gordon Johndroe said the visas would still be issued by consular officers, âbut they will be reviewed by Homeland Security to help weed out terrorists and others who should not be issued a visa.â
You know State Department still hates this intrusion on their turf.
Burgess said Homeland Security agents had also been sent to other countries: âThis is not exclusive to Saudi Arabia. They have been sent to other countries as well. It just happens they were sent here first.â Asked why Saudi Arabia was No. 1, Burgess said: âWell, I believe Sept. 11 is a good reason.â
Ooh, bet that left a scar. |