Say terrorists might enter by stage door

New York Daily News ^ | 4/02/04 | AP

[kattracks]

WASHINGTON - Terrorists might try to slip into the United States by tagging along with foreign sports teams or joining the entourages of famous performers, according to the FBI.

The bureau issued a bulletin this week to 18,000 state and local law enforcement agencies nationwide warning about the potential misuse of P-visas, one of several types granted by the State Department for people visiting the United States for artistic, cultural or athletic purposes.

"Recent intelligence indicates that terrorist groups may be interested in exploiting cultural visa programs to infiltrate operatives and support network into the United States," the FBI bulletin says.

The bulletin, sent Wednesday, does not identify the source of the intelligence and contains no specific, corroborated evidence that any terrorists have entered the country this way.

Spies and defectors in the past have gained entry by obtaining the special visas. Some people granted such U.S. entry visas have even sold them to others.

"Often, there have been problems," said Bill Strassberger, spokesman for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. "Is the person coming here for the stated purpose of the visa, or are they just trying to circumvent the program and stay here?"

State Department and Homeland Security Department officials say new fingerprint and photograph requirements put in place following the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks make such infiltration much more difficult.

The Associated Press

Originally published on April 2, 2004