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| U.S., Citing Militant Threat, Toughens Requirements in Visa Waiver Program | U.S., Citing Militant Threat, Toughens Requirements in Visa Waiver Program |
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| WASHINGTON — The Department of Homeland Security has toughened air travel requirements on foreign governments in response to what it believes is the growing threat from fighters who have gone to Syria and Iraq to join the Islamic State and other groups, senior American officials said Thursday. | WASHINGTON — The Department of Homeland Security has toughened air travel requirements on foreign governments in response to what it believes is the growing threat from fighters who have gone to Syria and Iraq to join the Islamic State and other groups, senior American officials said Thursday. |
| The changes, to be announced on Thursday, will be applied to the so-called visa waiver program that the United States has with 38 countries. The program allows citizens of those countries to enter the United States on visits of fewer than 90 days without being interviewed for visas at American consulates and embassies. | |
| Countries participating in the program will now be required to allow more American air marshals on flights to the United States, and to use passports that have electronic chips and rely on biometric identifers, like fingerprints. The countries will have to use computer programs and databases that automate the sharing of travel records and other information with the United States and that track lost and stolen passports. | |
| Many European countries — including Britain, Belgium, Germany and France — that have a large number of citizens who have traveled to Iraq and Syria are part of the waiver program. | |
| The Obama administration fears that these citizens might have received training while they were in Iraq or Syria and could then use the new expertise to wage attacks in the United States or on American airliners, the officials said. | The Obama administration fears that these citizens might have received training while they were in Iraq or Syria and could then use the new expertise to wage attacks in the United States or on American airliners, the officials said. |
| The Department of Homeland Security will also conduct a review of all the countries participating in the program to determine whether they are following its requirements. Those findings will probably lead to additional scrutiny at border crossings for travelers from countries the department has determined have weaknesses in their screening processes. | The Department of Homeland Security will also conduct a review of all the countries participating in the program to determine whether they are following its requirements. Those findings will probably lead to additional scrutiny at border crossings for travelers from countries the department has determined have weaknesses in their screening processes. |
| The visa waiver program was created in 1988 to expedite travel between the United States and its allies. Countries participating in the program are required to meet certain standards for aviation and border security. They are also expected to have strong laws and safeguards to prevent counterfeitingof passports. | |
| Instead of applying for a visa, travelers using the waiver program have to fill out a special form and receive approval from Customs and Border Protection before boarding a flight to the United States. | |
| Last fall, the department added new questions to its visa waiver applications. Six months ago, it began a review of the program to determine whether it could be exploited by foreign fighters. | Last fall, the department added new questions to its visa waiver applications. Six months ago, it began a review of the program to determine whether it could be exploited by foreign fighters. |
| “D.H.S. is also considering options available to encourage compliance, beyond utilizing the most stringent option of removing a country from the program, measures that are designed to achieve greater global security,” according to a department document. | “D.H.S. is also considering options available to encourage compliance, beyond utilizing the most stringent option of removing a country from the program, measures that are designed to achieve greater global security,” according to a department document. |
| The department will not make any changes to the United States’ programs with other countries “without first consulting with the affected country,” the document said. | The department will not make any changes to the United States’ programs with other countries “without first consulting with the affected country,” the document said. |
| The United States believes that at least 18,000 foreign combatants, including more than 3,000 Europeans, have made their way to Syria since the conflict began there in 2011. Roughly 500 of them have returned to European countries. | The United States believes that at least 18,000 foreign combatants, including more than 3,000 Europeans, have made their way to Syria since the conflict began there in 2011. Roughly 500 of them have returned to European countries. |
| “As I have said a number of times now, the current global threat environment requires that we know more about those who travel to the United States,” Jeh C. Johnson, the secretary for homeland security, said in a written statement. “This includes those from countries for which we do not require a visa.” | “As I have said a number of times now, the current global threat environment requires that we know more about those who travel to the United States,” Jeh C. Johnson, the secretary for homeland security, said in a written statement. “This includes those from countries for which we do not require a visa.” |