Erickson column: National security involves more than securing the borders
Jerry Erickson
Published: October 14, 2009
Currently you've heard Maher Smadi Hosam Hussein. He is 19 years old, who was arrested for trying to fly a Dallas skyscraper. The plan was discovered when the FBI began to suspect Mr. Smadi.
The New York Times of October 12, 2009, the plan has decoded Mr. Smadi in 2008:
"But in the spring of 2008, attracted the attention of the FBI, by posting inflammatory remarks of his willingness to kill Americans jihadist Web sites. During the summer, met with officials posing as members of al-Qaida and plotting to bomb the Box Office Building of the Fountain Plaza in downtown Dallas, according to an indictment released Thursday.
His arrest came after terrorism has parked a truck he had been told was loaded with explosives in the underground garage of the building, according court documents.
So, good job by the FBI, but what is also worrisome in this case is that Mr. Smadi had entered the United States a tourist visa had been exceeded. More precisely, he came to the United States from Jordan in early 2007 with a tourist visa for six months, depending on the immigration officials. When he entered, he was given a date when he was forced to leave the SU The fact is that he need not leave. Despite the fact that he expired and that his visa had expired, did not cause any alarm or process with immigration officials. Unfortunately, the fact is that, despite the fact that we more than 8 years after 9 / 11 the United States still lacks a system to verify that foreign visitors have left the United States when necessary.
As you can imagine, which disclosed the facts surrounding the case of Mr. Smadi, there is now a growing chorus in Congress by the Department of Homeland Security to develop a system electronic surveillance system output. Lamar Smith, Representative from Texas, the Republican responsibility for the House Judiciary Committee, said the case Smadi "points to a real need for input and output system If we are serious about reducing illegal immigration."
Sen. Charles E. Schumer, Democrat of New York and chairman of the Judiciary Committee subcommittee on immigration, said he would try to direct the money of the recovery program economic to build a system of exit controls.
As each of us have seen during travel, U.S. security has certainly been strengthened post 9 / 11. However, there is a huge gap in the system input / output controls are not biometric and / or process or system which will control agents when passengers have left the United States
Officials said the development and implementation of a monitoring program will be very expensive. Assuming this is the case, if we allow the people of America, we must be able to develop a system to effectively monitor when they leave. This is particularly true if the Obama administration is realistic about getting support for immigration reform.
As for Mr. Smadi tickets for its ability to integrate in American life remain too long after the picture is not pretty. Having decided that he did not leave the United States, if necessary, was able to enroll in school, obtain a California identification card, security of employment with employers in two separate states, rent an apartment and a house and buy a gun and ammunition. Let us just mention that there are no controls in place to see what Mr. Smadi was preceded and stay there.
The case of Mr. Smadi was a stark reminder that there are people who cause more damage in the U.S. similar to 9 / 11. Have effective border security is obviously important in the overall protection those who would do us harm. However, it is also essential to monitor those who are allowed to enter the United States and then take timely and appropriate if they decide to stay illegally. Congress should immediately consider the issue of electronic surveillance and develop and implement a plan that addresses a problem that should have been addressed for years.
Jerry Erickson is the managing partner of Szabo, Zelnick, and Erickson, PC (www.szelaw.com) in Woodbridge, Virginia. He is a lead attorney in the firm's business section Immigration. He practiced law for over 20 years and represents clients in many complex areas of immigration law. He can be contacted at href = "mailto: jerickson@szelaw.com"> jerickson@szelaw.com or (703) 494-7171.
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