Posted on 11/07/2001 5:23:05 AM PST by afraidfortherepublic
ATTENTION, terrorists: Want a U.S. visa? Worried about America's so-called immigration "crackdown" in response to the 9-11 attacks? Have no fear. If you've got cash, your green card is in the bag.
Last weekend, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported that federal officials had arrested a Saudi national accused of accepting bribes for U.S. visas. Abdulla Noman worked for the U.S. Commerce Department and issued visas in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. An informant told FBI agents that he paid Noman "approximately $3,178" in 1998 for a U.S. visa. Noman was nabbed last week during a visa-buying sting operation in Las Vegas. Investigators are probing Noman's possible links to the 9-11 hijackers -- 15 of whom received their visas legally in Saudi Arabia.
Noman's arrest, coupled with new measures to "tighten" the foreign student visa program, may appear to close off easy access to American green cards. But terrorists need not worry. There are plenty of other ways to purchase U.S. visas.
These cash-for-visa schemes are advertised widely on the Internet, in international newspapers, and by the U.S. government itself.
Take the EB-5 immigrant investor visa offered by the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service. It allows up to 10,000 wealthy foreigners and their families each year to buy immigrant visas in exchange for business investments. The law says the down payment must be at least $500,000. But former INS officials-turned-private consultants successfully lobbied for loosened financial rules. Despite recent reforms, the scam continues around the world.
Here is what one immigration firm, Acker Choquette Advocates based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, promises Middle Eastern immigrant investor applicants on its website: "Financing is available, with low initial cash investment of US $136,000.00. Minimum physical presence in the US is all that is required, along with the intent to remain a permanent resident."
We sell visas like used cars: Cheap, quick, and sleazy.
Here's another: The E-2 treaty investor program allows many foreigners (including those from Egypt, Oman, and Pakistan) to enter the country without INS approval if they fork over a modest $150,000 investment and agree to manage U.S.-based businesses. The E-2 visas take as little as two days to process and can be renewed indefinitely. Investors can bring their spouses, children, and "key employees" with them.
Then there's the "245(i) provision" of immigration law, which allows visa overstayers to pay a measly $1,000 fee and "adjust their status" without leaving the U.S. Rest of Story Here.
I'm in favor of closing our borders to illegal immigrants.
FReegards...MUD
As a Immigration Inspector, I have been chewed out by my Supervisors, because I have told immigrants that are having problems with INS to contact their local congressman.
INS middle and upper management hate to field requests from Crongressional Offices, but it does seem to work and I will continue to advise people to contact their Congressmen as needed.
Read this post: IMMIGRATION LAW ENFORCEMENT
In times of war, how do we know who should be "illegal." Seriously, in a practical, let's make it work reality, do we have a way of achieving safe legality?
IMHO, yes...Zero Tolerance Immigration Policy is NOT a Goal of mine, but eliminating the continuance of our Bi-Partisan National Indifference to Illegal Immigration most certainly is!!
FReegards...MUD
I hear you (no pun intended). I used to live in Snohomish. You could speak up there.
I think the Seattle area has changed since I left (1987) because I did not find it as liberal as you all describe now. Of course I lived in Snohomish and my husband worked in Everett. Also, I lived there only 5 years, so perhaps that was not long enough to find out.
People do hold some strange views there, however. I used to think it was because the boom/bust economies that have plagued Washington State since its founding. Everybody feels like they are one paycheck to unemployment.
This has stayed in Breaking News 6 hours so far, so I count myself lucky.
You know, I never thought I would even be thinking of zero tolerance immigration....not compatible with my ideals of liberty....under usual circumstances. BUT, in a war against terrorism and all the stuff I read about how terrorist can get into this country legally, coalition pressures, etc. I am swaying toward isolationists attitudes. I know I am setting myself up for flaming. But war demands extreme measures. This terrorist war terrifies me, almost as much as Clinton did (does)!!!!
ACKER CHOQUETTE Advocates & Legal Consultants
Mr. Denis Acker, or Mr. Frederic Choquette
P.O.Box 21602
Dubai - United Arab Emirates
By Telephone:
(+9714) 550004 / 551275
By Fax :
(+9714) 513622
Denis Acker, Frederic Choquette? Great Arabic names, huh?
I choose the safety of American citizens without abridgement of the Bill of Rights. Michelle is right, at present, homeland security is a pipe dream.
Socialists are using it to further big government and regulation. The New World Order is using the crisis to advance their cause, as example Bush pushing for trade authority in two weeks. Also, no control on immigration because that would encourage national sovereignty which should be discouraged if world government is to succeed.
The public has to realize they are on their own as far as their own safety is concerned.
USMMA correct me if I am wrong but doesn't this depend on what country you are coming from? Under Clinton the right countries were Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Syria, UAE, Jordan and any Middle Eastern or Asian country that had less than favorable diplomatic ties with the U.S. And if the INS rules were to be followed to the letter it was mainly applied to ethnic Europeans. It just seems that with the democrats in charge, policy decision generally revolve around ways to create instability and chaos in America and how to profit from it.
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