U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced that all travelers seeking admission under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) will be subject to enhanced security measures.  This measure is being implemented in response to concerns that a significant number of foreign fighters, including U.S. and European nationals, have traveled to Syria to support terrorist groups whose ideology and radical views pose a serious security threat to the United States.  U.S. authorities are concerned that members of these terrorist groups who qualify for the VWP will become further radicalized and then attempt to enter the United States to conduct attacks.  The VWP raises a security risk because nationals who qualify for the program are not required to process a visa application at a U.S. Consulate abroad, which requires an in-person interview and submission of additional biographic information, thereby adding another layer of security.
Continue Reading The Visa Waiver Program’s Security is Strengthened in Response to National Security Concerns