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Suspects Lost in the System

Aired June 18, 2003 - 10:08   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Now the war on terror and the suspects who could be among us. A Congressional report out this morning says that some terror suspects who had their visas revoked may still be living in the U.S.
National correspondent Bob Franken is in Washington this morning where a hearing gets underway this hour - Bob.

BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, and Leon, there's a bit of confusion. The General Accounting Office, which is the investigative arm for Congress has put out a report which on its face sounds fairly alarming, quoting from the report, at least 30 individuals whose visas were revoked on terrorism grounds may still remain in the country, because the INS, meaning the Immigration and Naturalization services and the FBI did not routinely attempt to locate or investigate any of the individuals.

However, at the hearing, which is about to occur, we're told by FBI sources that the Justice Department officials say the FBI testimony at today's hearing will show that none of the individuals whose visas were revoked, none, had any terrorism connections. The problem, nevertheless, according to GAO, is that the U.S. government has no written policy on the use of visa revocations as an anti- terrorism tool. What you have is a situation where the State Department does not really have a procedure in place to communicate with the different enforcement agencies who might move against people.

But as far as a danger, according to the FBI, there is nobody among these 30, who is considered a terrorism suspect. As a matter of fact, GAO says there was no way of really pinning that down. But they say there is a heightened risk that suspected terrorists could enter the country with a revoked visa or be allowed to remain after their visa is revoked without undergoing investigation or monitoring. The recommendation from GAO, pretty much get your act together, let's make sure that there is a coordination. The problem, of course, is getting the departments to move quickly. It's something that just doesn't happen in bureaucracy. But the administration claims that it is working on coordination, which is evidenced by the creation of the Homeland Security Department - Leon.

HARRIS: All right, they are still in force this morning. Bob, is the GAO saying that they believe that there are terrorists out there right now or is there some other issue here afoot?

FRANKEN: Well, what the GAO is doing is hedging a little bit. It is saying that there were 30 people whose visas were revoked for reasons related to terrorism who are still out there somewhere. But what the FBI is saying could be but they're not, according to the checks that have been made subsequent to the initial investigation, that they are not considered terrorism experts. So, it becomes a bit of straw man that's being knocked down. But it makes the larger point that the procedures are not really as sharp as they could be against an enemy, the terrorists who can look for any weakness in the system.

HARRIS: Thanks, Bob. Bob Franken in Washington.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired June 18, 2003 - 10:08   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Now the war on terror and the suspects who could be among us. A Congressional report out this morning says that some terror suspects who had their visas revoked may still be living in the U.S.
National correspondent Bob Franken is in Washington this morning where a hearing gets underway this hour - Bob.

BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, and Leon, there's a bit of confusion. The General Accounting Office, which is the investigative arm for Congress has put out a report which on its face sounds fairly alarming, quoting from the report, at least 30 individuals whose visas were revoked on terrorism grounds may still remain in the country, because the INS, meaning the Immigration and Naturalization services and the FBI did not routinely attempt to locate or investigate any of the individuals.

However, at the hearing, which is about to occur, we're told by FBI sources that the Justice Department officials say the FBI testimony at today's hearing will show that none of the individuals whose visas were revoked, none, had any terrorism connections. The problem, nevertheless, according to GAO, is that the U.S. government has no written policy on the use of visa revocations as an anti- terrorism tool. What you have is a situation where the State Department does not really have a procedure in place to communicate with the different enforcement agencies who might move against people.

But as far as a danger, according to the FBI, there is nobody among these 30, who is considered a terrorism suspect. As a matter of fact, GAO says there was no way of really pinning that down. But they say there is a heightened risk that suspected terrorists could enter the country with a revoked visa or be allowed to remain after their visa is revoked without undergoing investigation or monitoring. The recommendation from GAO, pretty much get your act together, let's make sure that there is a coordination. The problem, of course, is getting the departments to move quickly. It's something that just doesn't happen in bureaucracy. But the administration claims that it is working on coordination, which is evidenced by the creation of the Homeland Security Department - Leon.

HARRIS: All right, they are still in force this morning. Bob, is the GAO saying that they believe that there are terrorists out there right now or is there some other issue here afoot?

FRANKEN: Well, what the GAO is doing is hedging a little bit. It is saying that there were 30 people whose visas were revoked for reasons related to terrorism who are still out there somewhere. But what the FBI is saying could be but they're not, according to the checks that have been made subsequent to the initial investigation, that they are not considered terrorism experts. So, it becomes a bit of straw man that's being knocked down. But it makes the larger point that the procedures are not really as sharp as they could be against an enemy, the terrorists who can look for any weakness in the system.

HARRIS: Thanks, Bob. Bob Franken in Washington.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com