[testforecho]

The end of the memo is particularly interesting. Even while ordering inspectors not to follow immigration rules for the sake of moving "customers," she puts in a word about enforcing the law. "Our time is very limited and we must use it wisely," wrote Sanchez, who now works for the INS in Dallas. "We must facilitate the entry of all passengers while not compromising our law enforcement efforts."

Letting people into the country was the easiest thing to do, and the bureaucracy naturally followed the path of least resistance.

Unfortunately so did the terrorists.

---

I posted the Miami Herald article earlier today, but this is such an overwheming, systemic indictment I thought it should go on the Front Page.

[ikanakattara]

So in other words, our own *failed* immigration policies are partially responsible for making America so vulnerable on 9/11.

[the808bass]

Good find. Bumping.

[Temple Drake]

I wonder whether Aponte and Sanchez were born US citizens?

[Common Tator]

IF WE HAD KEPT ALL 18 hijackers out of the US it would not have helped a bit.

There are lots of places in the world to buy training on flying airliners. They didn't have to use the USA. They did it becuase it cost less. If they could not have entered the USA they would have just hijacked Canadian planes leaving on international flights. They could have taken down the WTC with out ever entering the USA before hand.

Fools think the solution is preventing terrorists from having oportuinity. It cannot be done in a free society. The only security is when the terrorists are absolutely certain that an attack will result in the total destruction of their cause.

Two thousand years ago the Romans had it figured out. They had a saying about their enemies.

Let them Hate, as long as they fear.

That is all the security there ever is or ever will be.

[Republic of Texas]

I hope this is widely published, and we finally take this problem seriously.

[Lion's Cub]

Thanks for posting this. Does anybody else notice that we hear about every day how the FBI has detained about 700 people, but we never hear about any being arrested or deported? The "war" on terrorism is a big, fat joke. There are more than 250,000 illegal aliens in the United States who have already been ordered deported by an immigration judge, but who remain in the United States anyway.

[denydenydeny]

At MIA, inspectors were given a flier titled "Attitudes to Remember." It includes helpful little reminders such as "Everyone has a good reason for what he/she has done," "Being flexible shows strength," "See others as you want to be seen," and "People are flawed, not evil."

I will repeat: Doris Meissner should be in prison.

[saradippity]

Excellent post!!

I am disappointed that we are taking action in Afghanistan because it is exactly what they were expecting. Its time we put on the mind of a terrorist and stepped out of the boxes we've been thinking from for far too long. When I finally did that I realized that we could "bean a few birds with one stone".

In order to strike fear in the terrorists hearts and to exact a little justice for the wrongs that have been perpetrated by our own paid elected and unelected officials as well as a few other miscreants,I offer the following idea.

Using either commercial airliners,which would justify the money for their 'bailouts" or military cargo planes suit up the troops.Equip them with swords and knives{most of the troops I am thinking of don't like guns},pack up K-rations and bottled water,show them how to open their parachutes and drop them into Afghanistan.

I think on the first plane we should place our esteemed ex-comander-in-chief and his spouse and his attorney general, the head of INS certainly deserves a seat on that plane as well as the heads of oh so many offices of departments whose mission was to protect us.I would also reserve a place for the two dog-sitting lawyers from San Francisco and their step-son and so on.

The way I figure it a couple of plane loads of the likes of them would result in an immediate turn over of all of the terrorists we are seeking. But the United States should only agree to receive the terrorists if they keep the "troops"we sent them forever. What do you think?

[LouD]

Good find - BTTT

[FITZ]

We already saw this with the Railroad Serial killer from Mexico who came back and forth to the US to kill Americans and the INS had him in custody also and let him go and kill more.

[Terry Mross]

He was taken into the "hard room" and asked, "Are you a democrat?" When he answered, "Yes", he was allowed to go on his happy way. I'd bet good money or bad money the DMC was there to register him to vote.

[Mulder]

Good post.

I went through more of a background check the last time I bought a new gun than these murderous sand goblins went through to get into this country, board a commercial airliner, and murder 5000 innocent people.

All in the name of "diversity" and more votes for the Nazi party in America.

[Brownie74]

FYI BUMP!!

[Mulder]

The people responsible for some of these decisions should be tried for treason against the United States.

If convicted by a jury of their peers, they should be promptly hung.

[Enlightiator]

Doris Meissner is a disgrace to this country. Her INS was and currently still is a joke. She used it to serve the selfish and corrupt political purposes of the Clinton White House. Meissner had hundreds of agents to send in after a little boy, Elian Gonzales, at the bequest of Janet Reno, but did nothing to secure our borders to prevent criminals and terrorists from entering.

[classygreeneyedblonde]

I think every dept. of the goverment needs a good shakedown there have been too many negelent cases.It's time to clean house

[okiedokie]

I might be just a "stupid okie" from the heartland, but why in God's name are we still letting these middle eastern men enter our country(refer to the NewsMax article on the 14 Syrians in Dallas for "flight training")? Why can't we deport all middle eastern males in this country who are not citizens of this country? If not, why won't the government protect it's own citizens. I am outraged. Oh, and by the way, I have not heard one comment on why that monster Mohammed Atta was wearing white gloves as he was entering the airport to board the plane than killed thousands of our citizens. I found that very odd when I saw the picture of him on the security tape just after the Sept 11 attack. Well, now we all know. His hands were raw from anthrax exposure and he did not want to draw suspicion to those his raw hands, or are the authorities not willing to admit it. All the government is doing now is having meetings about limiting student visas from terrorist countries. What will it take? We should have passed a law a month ago banning visas and another to deport non-citizens from these terroist countries. Who cares about racial profiling. Our lives are in danger. Is there anyone listening in Washington?

[Marine Inspector]

The 34-year-old Egyptian arrived at Miami International Airport earlier this year on a flight from Spain. His intention, he told immigration inspectors, was to learn to fly planes. Because he planned to go to school, the tourist visa he had used on a previous visit was invalid; the law required that he obtain a student visa from a U.S. consulate before entering the country. Following INS procedure, an inspector stopped Atta at the immigration line and sent him to "hard secondary," a room where intense investigations of suspected illegal aliens are supposed to take place.

Had INS management strictly enforced federal law, it would have deported Atta. Instead officers decided to waive the requirement that he have a proper visa. Further, the agency didn't even make Atta fill out necessary forms or pay a $170 fine, as required under law.

INS Supervisory Inspectors have broad powers of discretion.

Inspectors are encouraged/instructed to use the least amount of authority/power as possible.

This is how I heard it: When Atta entered, he stated on primary that he was a visitor, and was thinking of taking flight lessons. This statement was alone might not get you sent to secondary. The officer on primary, may inform the subject that flight lessons would be a violation of his visitor visa and let him know that he would be subject to deportation, if he was caught by INS.

Depending how the subject acts on primary, depends on if he is referred to secondary.

In secondary, the same thing would be stated, and if the subject states that he still wants to attend flight school, he can be offered a Waiver of Documents, which cost $170.

Atta most likely stated that he would not attend flight school and would just visit friends or family, and was then let in on his B2 visa.

Atta was not dumb and was probably convincing, and as such released.

Depending on the Inspectors, he could have been refused entry and removed, forced to pay $170 or be removed or convice the inspectors that he would not attend flight school, and be aloud to enter.

[XBob]

The INS doesn't check anybody going out, therefore, they don't know if a person has overstayed his visa or not. This needs to be changed.

[Clinton's a rapist]

Bump for the civil rights of visiting terrorists.