Speech #1030066786

I will be very brief in my comments because the subject is terrorists and how we treat terrorists in this country. I think it is appropriate for this Congress and the American people to say enough is enough. I noticed 5 days ago an article in the Washington Post newspaper headlined "Lenient Visa Rules Permit Terrorists To Enter the United States." The article pointed out that earlier this year. an Egyptian court convicted 39 Islamic militants of terrorist activities. and as of this week only 5 of them had been put on the State Departments list of persons who should not receive travel visas to the United States. I find it very hard and very strange to believe that we in this country would not prohibit people from entering our country who have been already convicted of terrorist activities by a court of law. It goes on to point out that even some persons who are actually convicted of terrorist activities may receive visas to come into the United States. for us to say welcome and come to the shores of the United States even after they have been convicted of terrorist acts. unless a consular officer has reason to believe they would commit some acts in this country. My point is how much of a message do we have to receive before we can make the decision that there are some people who should not be granted the privilege of coming to the United States. One of the State Department inspectors pointed out. when this policy was announced. he interpreted the policy to mean "the only person who could be banned. apparently. is somebody who actually pulls the trigger or sets the bombs off." Mr.