Dems push Obama to loosen visa restrictions

Senate Democrats are pushing the Obama administration to loosen new visa waiver restrictions for dual nationals that were included in an end-of-the-year spending bill.

Thirteen senators sent a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson arguing that the new requirements for individuals who have dual citizenship with Iraq, Iran, Syria or Sudan are "inconsistent with American values."

"Singling people out based on their national origin does not make us safer, is inconsistent with American values, and invites discrimination against American citizens who are dual nationals," they wrote in the letter, which was released on Friday.

Under the new requirements, individuals who have dual citizenship with Iran, Iraq, Syria or Sudan must get a visa to travel to the United States even if they are from one of the 38 countries in the Visa Waiver Program and haven't recently traveled to any of the four countries.

The Democrats want the Obama administration to offer a case-by-case waiver to the new regulations for individuals with dual citizenship, which would allow them to get approval to travel to the United States without a visa.

They suggest that individuals who don't have significant ties to Iraq, Iran, Syria or Sudan or haven't traveled there in 10 years, and have lived in a Visa Waiver Program member country for more than five years or are "passive" dual nationals should be eligible.

The senators add that it's "unwise" to use law enforcement resources to give greater scrutiny to individuals just because they have dual citizenship, saying those resources should instead be focused on those with possible ties to terrorism. - Read More at thehill

Dems push Obama to loosen visa restrictions

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