Posted on 03/12/2002 7:04:20 PM PST by Tumbleweed_Connection
Six months after they flew commercial jetliners into the World Trade Center, the Immigration and Naturalization Service has approved student visas for two of the 9/11 kamikaze hijackers who trained for the attacks at a Florida flight school.
Rudi Dekkers, an employee of Huffman Aviation, displayed for TV cameras the INS forms he received on March 11 approving hijack ringleader Mohamed Atta and his lieutenant Marwan Al-Shehhi for continued study in the U.S.
The incident left INS officials red-faced.
"I think it is certainly embarrassing that the letters show up at this late date," agency spokesman Russ Bergeron told CNN. "It does serve to illustrate what we have been saying since 1995 -- that the current system for collecting information and tracking foreign students is antiquated, outdated, inaccurate and untimely."
Bergeron pointedly noted that approval for the Atta and Al- Shehhi visas took place before the 9/11 attacks.
So is this knucklehead saying that it's embarrassing to the INS that they didn't approve the visa extensions quicker!?
Bush Orders New Student Visa Rules - 10-29-01
"President Bush ordered a crackdown Monday on foreign student visas -- the documents that gave one of the Sept. 11 terrorist hijackers access to this country."
House OKs Visa Security Legislation
Student Visa System 'Fraudulent
What's Hiding Behind The Student Visa Scandal
US visa procedure to be eased for Pakistanis
U.S. State Department - Pakistan A Terrorist Haven - October 22, 2001
Imaginary National Security
If This Wasn't So Serious It Would Make Good Late Night Comedy
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.