Expanded Visa Waiver Program Leads to Illegal Immigration, Harms National Security

Washington, DC - House Judiciary Ranking Member Lamar Smith (TX-21) issued the following statement in regard to the Obama administration’s decision to expand the Visa Waiver Program to Greece. 

Ranking Member Smith:  “The Obama administration’s decision to expand the Visa Waiver program is another blow to our national security. 

“It makes no sense to expand the Visa Waiver program until the exit portion of U.S.-VISIT is fully implemented.  Without an exit tracking system, visitors to the U.S. can stay here indefinitely and undetected.  This leads to more illegal immigration and weakens our national security.  September 11 conspirator Zacarious Moussaoui, ‘Shoebomber’ Richard Reid, and 1993 World Trade Center conspirator Ahmed Ajaj all entered or attempted to enter the U.S. through the Visa Waiver Program.

“Unfortunately, the Obama administration has already demonstrated that it has no intention of implementing an exit system since the FY 2011 budget request includes no funding for the US-VISIT exit program.  Without the exit portion of the U.S.-VISIT, there is no way to tell whether people who entered the U.S. under the Visa Waiver program actually left the country. 

“Without a fully-implemented exit program, the VWP facilitates illegal immigration.  An estimated 40 percent of illegal immigrants came to the U.S. under the VWP or with temporary visas and simply overstayed their period of lawful admission.”