- [SW News]( AP ) U.S. Adds 13 Nations to
Terror List : Posted on 23 Nov 2002
| U.S.
Adds 13 Nations to Terror List |
Story Filed: Friday, November 22, 2002 4:49 PM EST
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Men from 13 additional countries considered at
higher risk for terrorism who entered the United States on or before
Sept. 30 must register with the government, Attorney General John
Ashcroft announced Friday.
The new rules affect only males born on or before Dec. 2, 1986, who
are from Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Eritrea, Lebanon, Morocco, North
Korea, Oman, Qatar, Somalia, Tunisia,
the United Arab Emirates and Yemen. In addition, these men must be
intending to stay in the United States at least until Jan. 10, 2003.
Earlier this month, Ashcroft announced similar requirements for males
at least 16 years old from Iraq, Iran, Libya, Sudan and Syria.
Affected men will have to visit their local Immigration and
Naturalization Service office to be fingerprinted and photographed and
to provide detailed information about their backgrounds and the purpose
of their visit to the United States.
Since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, Ashcroft said, ``we
must have a better understanding of who is entering and existing our
country.''
The effort is part of a broader anti-terrorism program to screen
visitors at the border from those countries when intelligence signals a
higher risk. That program began on Sept. 11, 2002; the rules announced
Friday are intended to gain information about men from the designated
countries who were here prior to that date.
The affected population numbers in the thousands and includes
students, people with long-term travel visas, family members and others,
Justice Department officials said.
The requirements do not apply to permanent residents -- those with
INS ``green cards'' -- or to naturalized citizens from those countries.
Diplomats are also excluded, as well as those who are seeking or were
granted political asylum in the United States.
On the Net:
Immigration and Naturalization Service:
http://www.ins.usdoj.gov
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