WASHINGTON, 26 September — The new INS rule that requires Saudi Arabians, Pakistanis and Yemenis to register when they enter the United States is not a drastic move, especially as the Department of Justice "considers Saudi Arabia an ally on the war in terrorism."
According to Jorge Martinez, the spokesman at the Department of Justice, the INS and Department of Justice are executing a law mandated by Congress in 1996, and it is this law that requires them to implement an entry-exit system by 2005.
This law subjects all nationals of all countries to stricter scrutiny at the boarders, said Martinez. "Currently, all passport holders of Libya, Syria, Sudan, Iran, and Iraq are required to be registered under this system. However, no other countries, including Saudi Arabia, will be required to have all of their nationals who visit the US registered. But every country will see some of its citizens registered."
Martinez, who was interviewed by Arab News yesterday, said individuals will be registered under this system based on ever-changing intelligence about current terrorist threats to the United States. "Any national of any other country who enters the US — other than these five countries — may be registered under this system depending on current intelligent information."
Martinez stressed that the new law is not meant to scare away Saudi citizens from visiting the US. "The Department of Justice considers Saudi Arabia an ally on the war in terrorism, and it will apply intelligence information when assessing Saudi Arabian nationals at the boarder in the same manner that we apply intelligence in scrutinizing nationals of other countries," he said.
"The system was mandated by Congress when they passed the 2001 USA Patriot Act; they required us to develop this national security entry-exit registration system," said the Justice Department’s spokesman. "The system basically has several criteria: one is about the nationals of these five countries I previously mentioned, which is for no other reason than these countries are mentioned for state sponsored terrorism. All nationals of these countries will be registered by the system.
"The second criteria is regarding non-immigrant aliens whom the State Department has determined to pose an elevated national security risk, based on current intelligence. This is not specific to race, religion, country, etc. It just means that if a person fits any of these criteria, they will be required to go to a secondary inspection at the port of entry."
According to Martinez, it is at this secondary inspection site, that the visitors will be required to be fingerprinted. This information "will be run against databases of known criminals, known terrorists." He said the databases will also include information about "individuals who have overstayed their visas, or entered the country under another alias, or another name."
"While those fingerprints are being run against the database to see if they come up with a match, the individual will be required to register with the inspector at the inspection site," said Martinez. "They will be required to provide detailed information about his or her plans while in the US, as well as contact information."
But Martinez says the "process will be quick," and should take no longer than 5 to 10 minutes. But, depending on the length of stay, a follow-up will be required. "Within 30 days that person will have to report to an INS office and report more detailed information consistent with his or her visa. This will include proof of residence, such as invoices from a hotel to a rental contract; if they are working here, they will have to provide proof of employment; and if that person is a student visa holder, proof of enrollment at an education system is required."
At the 30-day point the visitor will have to register, and will be required to re-register every 12 months thereafter until that person departs the US.
But Martinez insists that such scrutiny is no worse than what is currently being implemented in Europe. "European countries already have similar systems to register aliens, and some European countries maintain systems that require even closer tracking."
Regarding the fact that some Saudis may now fear coming to the US, Martinez said it is an unfortunate price that must be paid. "After the unfortunate events of Sept. 11, our eyes were opened to vulnerabilities in our immigration system. This system, as required by Congress, is meant to keep track of individuals who might pose a national security risk to the US, or attempt to harm the US, or might help people who might attempt to harm the US."
