4/11/2007

The GAO submitted to the Congress a long report on the subject. In the immigration areas, it assessed that the government has strengthened the nonimmigrant visa process as an antiterrorism tool. New measures added rigor to the process by expanding the name-check system used to screen applicants, requiring in-person interviews for nearly all applicants, and revamping consular officials' training to focus on counter terrorism. 

To enhance security and screening at legal checkpoints (air, land, and sea ports) at the nation's borders, agencies are using technology to verify foreign travelers' identities and detect fraudulent travel documents such as passports. Accordingly, it gave a sort of "pass" mark in the nonimmigrant areas.

However, the GAO expressed remaining high security issue in the two programs, among others. One is Diversity Visa (Immigration Lottery Program) and the other is the Visa Waiver Program. The immigration lottery program was continuously attached in the last Congress including the IG of DHS. However, this report is short of recommending termination of the program. In the CIR of 2006, the immigration lottery was recommended to be terminated, though. It is likely that this program will be continuously attacked and remain vulnerable for survival. 

As for the Visa Waiver Program, despite the security risk involved, because of the national interest involved, the GAO does not recommend to terminate this program. It just recommended that DHS require visa-waiver countries to provide information to lost or stolen passports that terrorists could use to gain entry. Currently, 27 friendly countries take advantage of the Visa Waiver Program, but the Administration is planning to expand the list to other countries as late as 2009 adding 13 more countries including most of the former Eastern block countries that have supported the U.S. fight in Iraq and South Korea. 

Even though it may not be a reward for their collaboration with the U.S. fight in Iraq, it appears that the Administration finds it a sufficient national interest involved to enhance the flows of human traffics between the U.S. and these countries.