ImmigrationArrest of Saudi student prompts questions on visa security
The FBI’s arrest of Saudi national Khalid Ali-M Aldawsari for allegedly trying to purchase bomb-making chemicals, plotting to smuggle a bomb into a nightclub, and planning to plant explosives in toy dolls; the case of Aldawsari, a student of chemical engineering at Texas Tech on a student visa, has ignited a debate among House lawmakers over whether further steps need to be taken to screen or monitor people in the United States on visas
Aldawsari arriving for initial court appearance // Source: qusaytoday.com
The FBI’s arrest of Saudi national Khalid Ali-M Aldawsari, 20, for allegedly trying to purchase bomb-making chemicals, plotting to smuggle a bomb into a nightclub, and planning to plant explosives in toy dolls, has given lawmakers brief respite over the growing vulnerabilities of the homeland.
The case of Aldawsari, a student of chemical engineering at Texas Tech on a student visa, has ignited a debate among House lawmakers over whether further steps need to be taken to screen or monitor people in the United States on visas. House Homeland Security chairman Peter King (R-New York) wants to increase surveillance and screening measures on individuals in the U.S. on visas from countries known for terrorist activities, such as Saudi Arabia and Yemen.
“I think we have to realize that if they come here from these countries, they’re going to be subjected to more surveillance than others,” King said on Fox News. “If they fit a certain profile, if you’re coming from Saudi Arabia and you want to major in chemistry… I think you should be able to monitor the Internet and be able to see what these people are doing.”
At the committee’s hearing to discuss the DHS budget, King said he plans to question DHS secretary Janet Napolitano about Aldawsari and suggest an increase in screening and monitoring on foreign students in the country.
“I want to know what she thinks can be done to improve our security going forward,” said King in a statement on Saturday. “In this case, you have a student from Saudi Arabia, home of 15 of the 19 9/11 hijackers, on a student visa studying chemistry, with an interest in explosives. I believe we need to better screen student visa applicants, certainly those from countries like Saudi Arabia.
“Then once they are here studying,” he said, “we need to have a way to more closely monitor them.”
The ranking Democrat on the House Select Committee on Intelligence, Rep. C. A.“Dutch” Ruppersberger (Maryland) heralded the Aldawsari case as a success but told the Hill that lawmakers and U.S. officials need to be careful to weigh security concerns while not deterring foreign students who come to the country and add to its economic and educational development.
“We don’t want to discourage people coming from other countries to come to our education systems, because that makes us stronger as a country,” said Ruppersberger in an interview. “[Foreign students] are going to other countries, like
