Terrorists traveling from Europe without a visa pose a bigger threat
to US security than refugees from Syria, according to the chairman of
the Senate intelligence committee.
Senator Richard Burr supported calls to consider a “pause” in admitting Syrian asylum seekers but insisted this is not the most probable route open potential terrorists.
“I’m probably more concerned with the visa waiver programme today,” Burr told reporters after a two-hour briefing on Tuesday.
“Because were I in Europe already and I wanted to go the United States and I was not on a watch list or a no fly list, the likelihood is I would use the visa waiver programme before I would try to pawn myself as a refugee and try to enter under false documents,” he said.
The visa waiver programme allows citizens of participating countries including Britain, France and Germany to travel to the US without a visa for stays of 90 days or less if they meet certain requirements. It is popular with millions of business travellers and tourists who can avoid a lengthy visit to an embassy.
Senator Dianne Feinstein, vice-chairman of the intelligence committee, said around 13 million people enter the US each year through the programme, but she also understands that more than 40m stolen travel documents are on the black market in Europe.
“We need to look at that and explore what the options are how to make prudent changes that don’t impact our economy dramatically but do offer a significant measure of protection,” she said
Burr estimated that Isis is now active in 30 countries and said there is a strong likelihood the Paris attacks were “Isis directed”. He backed growing demands for a review of encryption technology used by Apple and other companies that make it difficult or impossible to retrieve data from communication devices. “We need to begin the debate on what we do with encrypted networks because it makes us blind to the communications and to the actions of potential adversaries,” he said.
Senator Richard Burr supported calls to consider a “pause” in admitting Syrian asylum seekers but insisted this is not the most probable route open potential terrorists.
“I’m probably more concerned with the visa waiver programme today,” Burr told reporters after a two-hour briefing on Tuesday.
“Because were I in Europe already and I wanted to go the United States and I was not on a watch list or a no fly list, the likelihood is I would use the visa waiver programme before I would try to pawn myself as a refugee and try to enter under false documents,” he said.
The visa waiver programme allows citizens of participating countries including Britain, France and Germany to travel to the US without a visa for stays of 90 days or less if they meet certain requirements. It is popular with millions of business travellers and tourists who can avoid a lengthy visit to an embassy.
Senator Dianne Feinstein, vice-chairman of the intelligence committee, said around 13 million people enter the US each year through the programme, but she also understands that more than 40m stolen travel documents are on the black market in Europe.
“We need to look at that and explore what the options are how to make prudent changes that don’t impact our economy dramatically but do offer a significant measure of protection,” she said
Burr estimated that Isis is now active in 30 countries and said there is a strong likelihood the Paris attacks were “Isis directed”. He backed growing demands for a review of encryption technology used by Apple and other companies that make it difficult or impossible to retrieve data from communication devices. “We need to begin the debate on what we do with encrypted networks because it makes us blind to the communications and to the actions of potential adversaries,” he said.
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