Finally. last week. a U.S. Federal District Judge ordered that he be reinstated In his job. Because of the subjectivity of visa rates. visa reistaal rates generally. I firmly believe that we must move toward a policy where participation in the visa waiver pilot program is condltlonud not. on sulljeclve faotors. but on objective criteria. That. objective crlturia hould ie low vina overstay rais. not low visa refusal raits. Simply it. countries whose nationals unter Lhe U.S. but then fail to leave should not be allowed to participate In a visa waiver Pilot. progranl. Whether that country Is Iliope or Africa. the same criteria ought to he applicable. Likewise. countries whose nationals enter the U.S. and then leave as they have committed to do and are obligated to do should be given the presumptions ithe visa waiver program gives to them. Their visa overstays should be the criteria. We must stop presuilng. based oil whatever subjective stereotypical or irrational criteria we are using. that one goup or another is more or less likely to overAtay their visa and stay in tie United States. We should have some til t+l.i vii cer la la. Of the 26 counilris cuireoltly authorized to participate In the visa waiver program. 21 are European countries. Part of that is because we are now using subjective criteria. Many have requested that we make our visa waiver pilot prograin a permanent program. he Chairmans amendment will extend that by 2 years. rather than just Into 1999 as the current draft of the bill will do. I will support tile Chairmans amendmeat. but t ahould lie clear i.hat. an long as participation In tie program is based on subjective rather I han objective criteria and. therefore. potentially discriminatory criteria. I wculd oppose any efforts 1eo make this Visa Waiver Program a pernia neal program. Oi ite .other hand. Mir.
Identified stereotypes
Presuming based on subjective stereotypical or irrational criteria that one group or another is more or less likely to overstay their visa.