WINK News Investigates: Traveling Terrorists

Author: Amanda Hall
Published: Updated:
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FORT MYERS, Fla.- As we learn more about the men responsible for last week’s deadly terror attacks in France, U.S. Officials are on high alert for Paris-like attacks here at home.

On CBS’s Face The Nation Sunday,  Rep. Michael McCaul, R-TX, who chairs the House Homeland Security committee, said the U.S. Needs to do a better job of tracking suspected jihadists to reconsider some travel requirements.

“Western Europe is more lenient in their travel restrictions, and we have a visa waiver-free system where they can fly in the United States without even having a visa,” he said.

WINK News and our team of researchers at PolitiFact investigated and found the congressman is right.  PolitiFact rates the statement that Western Europeans “can fly in the United States without even having a visa” TRUE.
The U.S. State Department website lists 38 countries, including 28 European countries where tourists do not need a visa for visits to the U.S.  They do, however, need a passport and can still be denied access.

PolitiFact reporter Joshua Gillan said, “European visitors need to fill out an application in order to enter the united states and that often raises flags when it is reviewed.”

And there are layers of security filters including the No-Fly list.  The two brothers who attacked the Paris magazine and killed 12 people were on that list.  PolitiFact notes the U.S. Keeps other databases, including the Passenger Name List.  Maintained by the airlines, it provides information on how and where an airline ticket was bought and how it was paid for.  It can help develop red flags and is checked before passengers board.

PolitiFact interviewed several security experts who say the databases are working.  Some say there’s a greater risk we should be looking at.

“One in particular was telling us that you need to keep in mind that most of the biggest threats to the united states are home-grown terrorists.  Those are people who are already here, so we shouldn’t focus completely on people who may come in from out of the country.”

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