jan 7 2002 By Joseph A. D'Agostino
© 2002 Human Events
Despite long-standing economic embargoes and the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Iraqi and Libyan nationals still are being allowed into the United States on business and tourist visas.
A State Department spokeswoman told Human Events that other than undergoing more stringent background checks, involving a more extensive review of government databases to "weed out those who would do us harm," Iraqi and Libyan nationals are being granted U.S. business and tourist visas according to the same criteria applied to nationals of other countries.
"If they meet all the eligibilities, and they do not come up as a hit, they may receive a visa," she said.
Citizens of nations openly hostile to the United States or listed by the State Department as "sponsors of international terrorism" have long been receiving temporary visas to enter the United States. In fiscal year 2000, for example, Libyan nationals received 109 tourist visas, 22 business visas and 150 combination tourist-business visas. Tourist visas are issued not only to those seeking to visit Disneyland or Yosemite but also to those seeking superior U.S. medical treatment.
"We try to give maximum eligibility," said the State Department spokeswoman. "Some could say, 'Yes, I'm coming for a business trip but then I'm going to Disneyland.'" When all temporary U.S. visas are counted, including those for study, Libyans were granted 445 visas to visit the United States in fiscal 2000. This figure does not include applicants for permanent residency or asylum, which are handled by the Immigration and Naturalization Service.
The Sept. 11 hijackers were from countries with pro-U.S governments, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
In fiscal 2000, 2,993 Iraqis received temporary visas to enter the United States. That included 660 tourist visas, 72 business visas and 1,515 combination tourist-business visas.
Nationals of another hostile state, North Korea, received 1,634 visas, including three tourist visas, 27 business visas and 1,443 combination business-tourist visas. The State Department lists Iraq, Libya and North Korea as sponsors of terrorism.
Iraq is the object of a UN embargo on almost all its trade. Libya is subject to a U.S. embargo on almost all trade. U.S. sanctions on North Korea were eased in June 2000.
Since the United States does not have diplomatic relations with these countries, and there are no U.S. consulates there, citizens of these states must travel to third countries to apply for U.S. visas. "London is a big place for third-country visa applications," said the spokeswoman.
In fact, nationals from all seven countries on State's list of state sponsors of terrorism – Iran, Iraq, Syria, Libya, Cuba, North Korea and Sudan – can get U.S. visas and did in fiscal 2000 (see Human Events, Dec. 17, 2001, page 6).
The State Department spokeswoman would not reveal exactly who is coming in from these countries or why they are coming. But she said that some could be people fleeing oppressive regimes. "You have Libyans living in Canada," she said. "They could be refugees."
Asked for a breakdown of how many of these visa holders are family members of U.S. residents or refugees from persecution, she said, "We're not going to have that. We're not going to ask them what their status is. We're interested in what is your purpose in taking a trip to the United States."
Nationals from certain countries, such as Iraq, Libya and North Korea are subject to greater scrutiny to determine if there is evidence that a visa applicant poses a threat. "Even before September 11," said the spokeswoman, "we had a security advisory in place for nationals of certain countries."
The State Department will not reveal all the details of how it checks on people from hostile countries, but she said by way of example, that "people in specific professions are scrutinized." The State Department has a list of professions that trigger closer examination, such as those who work in the chemical industry or other industries that can produce weapons.