Visa Waiver programVisa Waiver program scrutinized in wake of Paris terror attacks

Following the deadly terror attacks in Paris last week, there has been a renewed criticism of the U.S. visa waiver program which has allowed travel without visa by many.

As CBS reports, the program — which allows U.S. citizens to travel to countries in Europe and around the world with just passport and little security scrutiny, as well as allowing nationals from visa waiver countries to do the when traveling to the United States — is now subject to second thoughts by some and questions whether the program, as currently constituted, may expose the United States to unjustified risks.

There are an estimated 3,000-plus European citizens who have traveled to Syria to fight with jihadist groups, adding one more reason why some lawmakers want Congress to reassess the program.

“The visa waiver program is the Achilles’ heel of America,” said Senator Diane Feinstein (D-California) this past Sunday on CNN. “They can come back from training, they go through a visa waiver country, and they come into this country. Now, there are no-fly lists. There are terrorist lists. But they’re in the tens of thousands and even millions, so it’s difficult to ferret someone out.”

Feinstein went on to warn that jihadist groups have already been stealing travel documents, possibly allowing them to get by intelligence agencies.

“I think we need to take a look at the visa waiver program again, and see what we can do to prevent this kind of thing from happening, because I believe it will happen, if it hasn’t already,” said Feinstein.

Representative Michal McCaul (R-Texas), chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, has raised similar concerns and has stated that the committee will launch an investigation into the security gaps in the visa waiver program in search of ways to make it more secure.

Others, though, see the existing policies as secure enough. Jayson Ahern, a former acting commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, said there is already a reasonable system of check and balances.

“Many concerns about the visa waiver program are outdated and [critics] don’t fully understand what the US does get as a result having visa waiver agreements with 38 countries,” he said. “[These 38 countries] all also engage in information sharing with the US…you begin with a pretty strong starting point.”

Ahern also noted that even though travelers are exempt from the usual visa process, they still must answer questions and be screened by security agencies. Further, he added that Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials are stationed throughout the world to also screen those who board U.S. planes.

The issue will likely be included in the House of Representatives voting on DHS funding for the next year, which will take place later this week.