Immigration and Visa Policy

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International Criminal Information Sharing

July 7, 2010

Over the past years more than a dozen agreements to share information about criminals have been signed with our Visa Waiver Program (VWP) partners. Known as Preventing and Combating Serious Crime (PCSC), these agreements stem from the more robust VWP information sharing requirements mandated by the 9/11 Act. Significant work remains to be done to complete bilateral agreements with each VWP country. A few countries have resisted the VWP’s core information-sharing requirements, and it is therefore imperative for DHS to continue to communicate a firm message on the necessity of timely compliance and clearly signal the costs of backward movement to VWP participants.

Rich Cooper |

June 23, 2010

Before a packed audience at CSIS, DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano delivered what can only be described as a pointed and aggressive defense of the Obama Administration’s border security efforts. The Obama Administration rolled out their most experienced border expert to take on its critics and declare what had been done. Pointedly saying, “the numbers tell a story and don’t lie,” the Secretary detailed increases in border patrol hiring and deployments, increases in enforcement and deportations, and in technology deployments. The numbers were impressive and they do tell a positive story, but sitting in the audience, I and a number of other attendees noted that many of the investments and numbers she heralded were initiated by her predecessor, Michael Chertoff and the previous Administration. The “facts also tell a story.”

Police chief: Cartels threaten U.S. law enforcement in Arizona

Media Watch |

June 22, 2010

Police chief: Cartels threaten U.S. law enforcement in Arizona – Homeland Security Newswire
We reported two months ago that there is a new twist in the on going war along the U.S.-Mexico border: Mexican smugglers now use “cloned” Border Patrol vehicles to smuggle drugs into the United States. There is an added danger here, as Mexican drug cartels have launched an assassination campaign against U.S. law enforcement personnel along the border; driving a Border Patrol look-alike vehicle allows the assailants to get closer to their targets without arousing suspicion.

Arizona immigration law puts Democrats' seats in peril

Media Watch |

June 21, 2010

Arizona law puts Democrats’ seats in peril – Scott Wong – POLITICO.com Arizona’s controversial new immigration law is imperiling a trio of centrist Arizona Democrats who are caught in powerful crosscurrents in their Republican-leaning House districts. The leader of their party, President Barack Obama, has criticized the state law as “misguided,” and the Justice Department […]

Security Debrief |

June 15, 2010

By Michael T. Dougherty
It is an open question whether Congress will address comprehensive immigration reform legislation this year or find time to work on smaller immigration packages such as the DREAM Act or AgJOBS. Immigration reform poses many difficult issues for Congress, and if any legislation includes a pathway to citizenship for some or all the 10.8 million illegal immigrants that DHS estimates reside in the United States, Congress should ensure that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has the resources that it needs to promptly and accurately enroll that population.

Security Debrief |

June 14, 2010

On June 3, DHS announced that it had completed an agreement with France to implement the Immigration Advisory Program (IAP) at the Charles De Gaulle International Airport in Paris. When Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers are deployed later this summer, Paris will join Amsterdam, Frankfurt, London, Madrid, Tokyo and Seoul (among other locations) as places where the IAP operates. The IAP enables the identification of high-risk travelers at foreign airports before they board aircraft bound for the United States, and DHS should continue to work with partners to export best security practices and standards more widely.

Security Debrief |

June 10, 2010

Among the issues awaiting Secretary of State Clinton on her trip to Latin America is U.S. immigration policy and combating narco-trafficking. The Secretary could advance both issues while simultaneously stressing the Obama administration’s commitment to the Western Hemisphere by offering the prospect of Visa Waiver Program (VWP) membership to qualified Latin American countries. Currently, no country from the region is on the VWP list. This absence of our neighbors to the south is something that can and should be remedied.

E-Verify Gets Critical Improvements but Still Lacks Identity Verification

Julie Myers Wood |

June 9, 2010

The Department of Homeland Security’s continued commitment to E-Verify is apparent from the new E-Verify re-design, which will be launching on Sunday, June 12, 2010. The new re-design is a huge improvement in terms of the look and feel of the E-Verify program, giving users enhanced security, accuracy and efficiency. Unfortunately, the new system still does not address the most pressing need of many employers – an ability to address prevalent identity theft and false claims of U.S. citizenship. Regardless, the system should be a welcome improvement for employers. The enhanced tools and information also demonstrate the broader DHS commitment to enhance the E-Verify system. This commitment is a positive sign that the government is serious about helping employers successfully determine employment verification.

Book Review: Stewart Baker's "Skating on Stilts"

Media Watch |

June 4, 2010

Homeland Security Watch » A Review: Skating on Stilts: Why We Aren’t Stopping Tomorrow’s Terrorism In 2005, Stewart Baker joined the Department of Homeland Security as Assistant Secretary of Policy for the entire Department of Homeland Security under Secretary Michael Chertoff. The position, which evolved from the Assistant Secretary for Border and Transportation Security Policy […]

Rich Cooper |

May 24, 2010

Last week, I had an opportunity to speak with Federal News Radio’s Francis Rose about a variety of topics. We covered John Pistole’s nomination for TSA administrator, the Taliban’s plans for attacking our nation’s capital and of course, the ongoing discussion on immigration.

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