Attacking the Visa Waiver Program

38 countries currently participate in the VWP

September was the month for Congressional attacks on the Visa Waiver program. The seemingly innocuous VWP allows citizens of participating countries to travel to the US without a visa for stays of 90 days or less* (*certain conditions and restrictions may apply).

Some members of Congress view the program as nothing more than a glaring security risk.

Congressman Doug Collins (R-GA) kicked things off on September 10 with H.R. 5434: “To suspend the visa waiver program in order for the Comptroller General of the United States to assess the national security risks posed by the program, and for other purposes.”

Congresswoman Candace Miller (R-MI) followed suit on September 15 with H.R. 5470: “To clarify the grounds for ineligibility for travel to the United States regarding terrorism risk, to expand the criteria by which a country may be removed from the Visa Waiver Program, to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to submit a report on strengthening the Electronic System for Travel Authorization to better secure the international borders of the United States and prevent terrorists and instruments of terrorism from entering the United States, and for other purposes.”

Across the aisle, Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) put forth H.R. 5594 on September 18: “To suspend from the visa waiver program any country that has identified passport holders fighting with an Islamist extremist organization, and for other purposes.”

So what are these legislators so worked up about? They see the VWP as creating a way for ISIS fighters to gain entry into the United States for, clearly, nefarious purposes.

On Monday, conservative think tank The Heritage Foundation held a conference about these issues: Visa Waiver Program and the Safety of America. You can watch the entire conference in the video below.

Michael Chertoff, former U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security (2005-2009) spoke at the event (see from 3:10 on in the video above). He warned that the September 2014 efforts to eliminate the VWP would be a “huge mistake” equivalent to:

“trying to conduct an operation that requires a scapel by using a chainsaw. All that happens is you don’t achieve your mission and you wind up killing the patient as well.”

Chertoff emphasized the “solidarity” that the VWP builds between the US and friendly nations, one that not only enhances national security but also builds trade and economic activity. He went on to conclude:

“The way we deal with the issue of foreign fighters is to use the scalpel of identifying with precision and taking them out, and not the chainsaw of dismantling the program that has served not only the United States well, but our foreign friends and allies overseas.”

-KitJ