WASHINGTON - Congress on Friday tightened the program that allows millions of foreign nationals to travel visa-free to the US, as lawmakers demand heightened security following terrorist attacks in Paris and California.
The restrictions were part of a sprawling federal spending bill and tax relief package that easily passed the Senate shortly after earlier clearing the House and now heads to President Barack Obama’s desk for his signature. It bars people who are citizens of the 38 countries that participate in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) and who are also dual nationals from Iran, Iraq, Syria and Sudan from using the visa-free system. It also prevents those who have travelled to those four countries since 2011, or to a country Washington has listed as supporting terrorism, from participating, deeming them a risk and requiring them to apply for a standard visa.
Meanwhile, US authorities arrested Thursday a man who bought the assault rifles used in the San Bernardino massacre that left 14 people dead, charging him with plotting terror attacks with Syed Farook, who was behind the rampage. Enrique Marquez, 24, was charged with conspiring with Farook - a longtime friend and former neighbor - to commit two terrorist attacks in 2011 and 2012, though neither plot was ever carried out.
The effort reflects calls by US lawmakers and authorities to reduce security vulnerabilities in the aftermath of the deadly terror strikes last month in Paris, where some of the attackers were French and Belgian nationals who could have traveled unrestricted to the United States to carry out attacks. The affected foreign nationals will not be barred from travelling to the US, but they will be required to obtain a visa prior to their visit through standard means, which includes a face-to-face interview at a US consulate.
About 20 million people each year come to the United States without a visa for stays of less than 90 days, including about 13 million Europeans.
They apply online, presenting biographical data through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization, or ESTA, and pay a small fee.
European diplomats, led by European Union ambassador to Washington David O’Sullivan, have warned of potential retaliation against the United States, arguing the program is based on reciprocity.
Officials in Europe - where five of the 28 EU nations have yet to join the Visa Waiver Program - have planned a review of VWP next year, and the US action could complicate that process.
Non-profit groups have called the measure discriminatory since it punishes certain European citizens based on their national origin from Muslim-majority countries.
“Once again, members of Congress are using the government funding bill to pursue their extremist agendas,” said Anthony Romero, executive director of civil liberties group ACLU.