A Closer Look at the Border Security Bill

May 13, 2002 12:00 PM

Both the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate have approved the proposed Border Security Bill unanimously. Here's a look at some of the provisions:

* Authorizes an increase of at least 200 Immigration and Naturalization Service inspectors, INS investigative personnel and associated support staff in each of the fiscal years 2002 through 2006.

* Gives the INS an additional $150 million to improve its border security technology.

* Requires consular officials to electronically transmit visa applications so that immigration officials have the information at U.S. ports of entry before the alien arrives.

* Requires the issuance of machine-readable, tamper-resistant travel documents with biometric identifiers like face recognition technology, and requires all U.S. ports of entry to have equipment able to read those documents. Participants in the visa waiver program must also have passports that are machine-readable, tamper-resistant and that have biometric identifiers.

* Bans aliens from countries on the terrorist watchlist from getting nonimmigrant visas unless the Secretary of State and the Attorney General certify that the aliens pose no security threat to the United States.

* Requires that the INS check the terrorist and criminal watchlist before an alien is approved to participate in the visa waiver program.

* Requires that all arriving flights from a foreign country send passenger manifests in advance of arrival.

* Repeals the 45-minute time limit in clearing passengers on international flights coming into the United States.

* Requires the State Department and the Justice Department to collect any foreign student's date of entry and port of entry into the United States, date of school enrollment, date the student leaves school by graduation or resignation, and the degree program or field of study. Also requires the university to report to the INS if the student has not shown up for class a month after the classes begin.

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