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US govt makes security changes to travel rules
Washington, Aug 03: The US government has suspended two programmes that allow foreigners to transit American airports without visas to catch connecting flights between international points.
Washington, Aug 03: The US government has suspended two programmes that allow foreigners to transit American airports without visas to catch connecting flights between international points.
The State Department said al-Qaeda and other terrorist organisations had planned to use the programmes as a way of getting access to flights to and from the United States.
Before the change, potential terrorists could have arrived in the United States without visas, thus eluding required checks against federal lists of terrorism suspects.
The action by the Departments of State and Homeland Security was effective starting today. The departments "have received specific, credible intelligence... That certain terrorist organisations including al-Qaeda have identified the visa and passport exemptions of those programmes as a means to gain access to aircraft en route to and from the United States," State Department spokeswoman Jo-Anne Prokopowicz said.
She said the intelligence included information from both the FBI and the CIA.
Homeland Security secretary Tom Ridge said in a statement that "terrorists aim to exploit our vulnerabilities and freedoms".
He said the steps announced, "while aggressive, are an appropriate response to the threat. We know they will have an impact on international travellers, but we believe they are necessary in order to protect lives and property". Bureau Report
Before the change, potential terrorists could have arrived in the United States without visas, thus eluding required checks against federal lists of terrorism suspects.
The action by the Departments of State and Homeland Security was effective starting today. The departments "have received specific, credible intelligence... That certain terrorist organisations including al-Qaeda have identified the visa and passport exemptions of those programmes as a means to gain access to aircraft en route to and from the United States," State Department spokeswoman Jo-Anne Prokopowicz said.
She said the intelligence included information from both the FBI and the CIA.
Homeland Security secretary Tom Ridge said in a statement that "terrorists aim to exploit our vulnerabilities and freedoms".
He said the steps announced, "while aggressive, are an appropriate response to the threat. We know they will have an impact on international travellers, but we believe they are necessary in order to protect lives and property". Bureau Report