Give Homeland Security role in U.S. visas: Senator

- The Homeland Security Department rather than the State Department should handle U.S. visas overseas to meet security threats, the chairman of the Senate homeland security committee said on Sunday.

Connecticut independent Joe Lieberman raised the idea during a discussion on ABCs "This Week" of the attempted bombing of a Detroit-bound plane on Dec 25.

"I believe, incidentally, that we ought to take a look at taking the visa application and admission responsibility from the State Department. It doesn't really fit with foreign policy anymore," he said.

"And in an age of terrorism, I think the Department of Homeland Security ought to be handling visas abroad."

The 23-year-old Nigerian accused of the attempted bombing, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, held a multiple-entry U.S. visa issued in London, according to a statement by his family.

Leaders of the Senate committee say they will convene a hearing this month to examine airline security.

The committee's top Republican, Susan Collins of Maine, said on "This Week" the State Department should have revoked Abdulmutallab's visa after his family told U.S. officials they were worried about his activities.

The Homeland Security Department was to take control this month of a visa program for flight school students.

Foreign citizens from all but 35 countries, mostly in Europe but also including Australia, New Zealand, Japan and South Korea, must obtain a U.S. visa to visit the United States but a visa does not guarantee entry. Some 5.8 million non-immigrant visas were issued in 2006, the most recent year listed on a State Department site on the Internet.

"Some 5.8 million non-immigrant visas were issued in 2006, the most recent year listed on a State Department"

It is often stated that we allow legally about 2 million foreigners to come to the USA. No, friends, it's more like 7 to 9 MILLION PER YEAR! Their babies are automatic US citizens! And NO ONE is watching what happens to these people after they are here. The government admits about half of them overstay their visa and there is no mechanism to find them.

I don't agree that Homeland security would be better, but it's hard to be worse than the State Dept.

USCIS, the agency under DHS that handles visas is UNABLE to do so! These figures are above what the State Dept. issues.

USCIS, the agency 'in charge' also issues:

http://uscis.gov/graphics/publicaffairs/DayinLife_050629.pdf (click here to see orignial document)

Some of the DAILY work of USIS according to their own document: PER DAY!!!!

* Conduct 135,000 national security background checks (they 'process' this amount, often just rubber stamping, no 'background check)

* process 30,000 applications for immigrant benefits

* Issue 7,000 permanent resident cards (green cards -PER DAY- yet they want another guest worker program!)

* Welcome 2100 new citizens.(over a million last year got citizenship)

* Welcome 3500 new permanent residents.

Does this look like we are not allowing enough "Legal" entries?

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