4/27/11, "Controversial Surveillance Program Launched After 9/11 Ends," WSJ
-------------------------------------------------------
4/22/13, "Paul to Reid: Suspend Immigration Bill Until National Security Considerations Studied," PJ Media, Bridget Johnson
"Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) sent a lengthy letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) today asking to table the immigration reform bill until the Boston attacks are better understood and national security considerations are addressed in the legislation.
“The facts emerging in the Boston Marathon bombing have exposed a weakness in our current system. If we don’t use this debate as an opportunity to fix flaws in our current system, flaws made even more evident last week, then we will not be doing our jobs,” Paul wrote.
“We should not proceed until we understand the specific failures of our immigration system. Why did the current system allow two individuals to immigrate to the United States from the Chechen Republic in Russia, an area known as a hotbed of Islamic extremism, who then committed acts of terrorism? Were there any safeguards? Could this have been prevented? Does the immigration reform before us address this?”
One of the Tsarnaev brothers accused in the attack was a naturalized citizen and the other a permanent resident. Paul said committee work needs to be done to scrutinize whether the system “gives individuals from high-risk areas of the world heightened scrutiny.”
“In the wake of 9/11, there was a comprehensive reform of our intelligence gathering system, yet our improved intelligence gathering system did not adequately detect these extremists. We need to understand possible intelligence failures and craft solutions,” he wrote.
Paul suggested revisiting the National Security Registration System (NSEERS) implemented by Congress in 2002 but suspended by Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano in 2011. That system had problems, yet was still based on the practical idea that extra screening is necessary from nations that have a higher population of extremists. Congress might need a similar system updated for current circumstances to be rolled into comprehensive immigration reform. I would like the US-VISIT/OBIM program studied to see if it actually works, or at least study the process by which we collect and analyze biometric data on immigrants.
“I want to make sure that any new bill addresses the visa entry and exit programs, in addition to refugee programs that have proven problematic in Bowling Green and possibly, if media reports are correct, in Boston.”
Paul added student visas need a second look, as well. “Should we suspend student visas, or at least those from high-risk areas, pending an investigation into the national security implications of this program?”
“I respectfully request that the Senate consider the following two conditions as part of the comprehensive immigration reform debate: One, the Senate needs a thorough examination of the facts in Massachusetts to see if legislation is necessary to prevent a similar situation in the future.
Two, national security protections must be rolled into comprehensive immigration reform to make sure the federal government does everything it can to prevent immigrants with malicious intent from using our immigration system to gain entry into the United States in order to commit future acts of terror.”" via Mark Levin twitter
===========================
Following is the entire letter from Rand Paul to Harry Reid via Slate:
"Dear Majority Leader Reid,
As our thoughts and prayers continue to go out to those affected
by the tragedy in Boston, I urge you to incorporate the following
national security concerns into the comprehensive immigration reform
debate. Before Congress moves forward, some important national security
questions must be addressed.
I believe that any real comprehensive immigration reform must
implement strong national security protections. The facts emerging in
the Boston Marathon bombing have exposed a weakness in our current
system. If we don't use this debate as an opportunity to fix flaws in
our current system, flaws made even more evident last week, then we will
not be doing our jobs.
We should not proceed until we understand the specific failures
of our immigration system. Why did the current system allow two
individuals to immigrate to the United States from the Chechen Republic
in Russia, an area known as a hotbed of Islamic extremism, who then
committed acts of terrorism? Were there any safeguards? Could this have
been prevented? Does the immigration reform before us address this?
There should be hearings in the Senate Homeland Security and
Government Affairs Committee that study the national security aspects of
this situation, making sure that our current immigration system gives
individuals from high-risk areas of the world heightened scrutiny.
In the wake of 9/11, there was a comprehensive reform of our
intelligence gathering system, yet our improved intelligence gathering
system did not adequately detect these extremists. We need to understand
possible intelligence failures and craft solutions.
Media reports indicate that both the bombing suspects were legal permanent residents and one is reported to be a naturalized citizen. We need to make sure that we have safeguards against this type of situation happening again.
================================
4/27/11, "Controversial Surveillance Program Launched After 9/11 Ends," WSJ, Miriam Jordan
"The federal government Wednesday effectively ended a controversial program launched in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks to keep tabs on individuals visiting the U.S. mainly from Arab countries.
The National Security Entry-Exit Registration System, known by its acronym, NSEERS, required individuals from more than 20 predominantly Arab countries to register with the government on arrival and departure from the U.S.
The manual process required about 30 minutes of additional inspection at a port of entry for those arriving on nonimmigrant visas. Visitors had to register again on exiting the country.
Human-rights groups said the program promoted profiling of Muslims.
The Department of Homeland Security said Wednesday that the program was abolished because new automated technology renders the program unnecessary and no longer cost-effective.
"Since NSEERS was first implemented in 2002, DHS has implemented more robust, risk-based, and intelligence-driven targeting processes," said spokesman Matt Chandler."
=================================
4/28/11, "Special Registration Program (NSEERS) Ends Effective Today (April 28, 2011)," LaborImmigration.com
"The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced that the National Security Entry-Exit Registration System (NSEERS) will be eliminated effective April 28, 2011. See the Federal Register notice and WSJ article.
About NSEERS
The National Security Entry-Exit Registration System, NSEERS, required individuals from more than 20 predominantly Arab countries to register with the government on arrival and departure from the U.S. Until today, nationals of
Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Egypt, Eritrea, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, North Korea, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen
had to register every time they entered or left the U.S. at a border post.
The manual process required about 30 minutes of additional inspection at a port of entry for those arriving on nonimmigrant visas. Visitors had to register again on exiting the country.
DHS Rationale for Ending NSEERS
According to DHS, the main reason for ending NSEERS is that since the NSEERS requirements were established, DHS has created a number of additional procedures and safeguards which, in effect, duplicate NSEERS’ need for manual registration upon entry into the U.S."...
Media reports indicate that the deceased bombing suspect was
interviewed by the FBI two years ago at the request of a foreign
government. We need to know the details of this interview. We need to
know if this interview might have given investigators any reason to
conclude that this individual might be dangerous or at least worthy of
further inquiry. If so, was there an intelligence failure? At the very
least, it should be examined.
Media reports indicate that both the bombing suspects were legal permanent residents and one is reported to be a naturalized citizen. We need to make sure that we have safeguards against this type of situation happening again.
In 2002, Congress set up the National Security Registration
System (NSEERS), yet it was suspended in 2011 by Secretary of Homeland
Security Janet Napolitano. That system had problems, yet was still
based on the practical idea that extra screening is necessary from
nations that have a higher population of extremists. Congress might need
a similar system updated for current circumstances to be rolled into
comprehensive immigration reform.
I would like the US-VISIT/OBIM program studied to see if it
actually works, or at least study the process by which we collect and
analyze biometric data on immigrants.
Our refugee programs have proven to be a problem. On, January 29,
2013, two Iraqi citizens living in Bowling Green, in my home state of
Kentucky, were sentenced to long prison terms for participating in
terrorism and providing material support to terrorists while living in
the United States. How did this happen? Does the current immigration
reform address how this might have happened? We may need more scrutiny
when accepting refugees from high-risk nations.
Thank you for your consideration of this request."
4/22/13, "Rand Paul: Why were two people allowed to immigrate "from the Chechen Republic, a hotbed of Islamic extremism"?" Dave Weigel, Slate
I want to make sure that any new bill addresses the visa entry
and exit programs, in addition to refugee programs that have proven
problematic in Bowling Green and possibly, if media reports are correct,
in Boston.
Finally, do we need to take a hard look at student visas? Should
we suspend student visas, or at least those from high-risk areas,
pending an investigation into the national security implications of this
program?
I respectfully request that the Senate consider the following two
conditions as part of the comprehensive immigration reform debate: One,
the Senate needs a thorough examination of the facts in Massachusetts
to see if legislation is necessary to prevent a similar situation in the
future.
Two, national security protections must be rolled into comprehensive immigration reform to make sure the federal government does everything it can to prevent immigrants with malicious intent from using our immigration system to gain entry into the United States in order to commit future acts of terror.
Two, national security protections must be rolled into comprehensive immigration reform to make sure the federal government does everything it can to prevent immigrants with malicious intent from using our immigration system to gain entry into the United States in order to commit future acts of terror.
Thank you for your consideration of this request."
================================
4/27/11, "Controversial Surveillance Program Launched After 9/11 Ends," WSJ, Miriam Jordan
"The federal government Wednesday effectively ended a controversial program launched in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks to keep tabs on individuals visiting the U.S. mainly from Arab countries.
The National Security Entry-Exit Registration System, known by its acronym, NSEERS, required individuals from more than 20 predominantly Arab countries to register with the government on arrival and departure from the U.S.
The manual process required about 30 minutes of additional inspection at a port of entry for those arriving on nonimmigrant visas. Visitors had to register again on exiting the country.
Human-rights groups said the program promoted profiling of Muslims.
The Department of Homeland Security said Wednesday that the program was abolished because new automated technology renders the program unnecessary and no longer cost-effective.
"Since NSEERS was first implemented in 2002, DHS has implemented more robust, risk-based, and intelligence-driven targeting processes," said spokesman Matt Chandler."
=================================
4/28/11, "Special Registration Program (NSEERS) Ends Effective Today (April 28, 2011)," LaborImmigration.com
"The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced that the National Security Entry-Exit Registration System (NSEERS) will be eliminated effective April 28, 2011. See the Federal Register notice and WSJ article.
About NSEERS
The National Security Entry-Exit Registration System, NSEERS, required individuals from more than 20 predominantly Arab countries to register with the government on arrival and departure from the U.S. Until today, nationals of
Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Egypt, Eritrea, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, North Korea, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen
had to register every time they entered or left the U.S. at a border post.
The manual process required about 30 minutes of additional inspection at a port of entry for those arriving on nonimmigrant visas. Visitors had to register again on exiting the country.
DHS Rationale for Ending NSEERS
According to DHS, the main reason for ending NSEERS is that since the NSEERS requirements were established, DHS has created a number of additional procedures and safeguards which, in effect, duplicate NSEERS’ need for manual registration upon entry into the U.S."...
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