U.S. Government Plans to Increase Screening for Some International Air Passengers

August 4, 2003

U.S. Government Plans to Increase Screening for Some International Air Passengers
Officials in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced this weekend they are considering increasing security measures for arriving passengers who are not citizens from the 27 visa waiver countries. In addition, the government suspended two programs that previously allowed some international passengers into the United States without a visa.

According to CNN.com, Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge appeared on the network this weekend and indicated increased security measures under consideration, including implementing "an entry-exit system based on a machine-readable passport, so we’ll be able to verify and validate they are who they claim to be."

Homeland Security also withdrew the transit-without-visa program and the international-to-international transit program this weekend, which allowed air passengers to travel through the country without a visa. While the changes are immediate, exceptions are being made for those people who are now traveling or will travel soon.

For more on this story, visit CNN.com.