The legislation would allow the State Department and the Immigration Service access to certain FBI files in order to determine whether a applicant for a visa or admission into the country has a criminal history record.
"Securing U.S. borders against the entry of international terrorists, drug traffickers, international organized crime members and illegal entrants is the responsibility of more than one federal agency," Grassley said. "By coordinating our efforts, the federal government can better enforce the systems it has in place to protect U.S. citizens from outside threats."
Grassley said that the State Department needs electronic access to information collected by our border security and law enforcement agencies so consular officers in our embassies can identify high-risk travelers. "Without this information, a consular officer could unknowingly grant a visa to a known or suspected criminal," he said.
INS officials require access to the information because INS officers inspect travelers for admission into the United States. They also adjudicate applications for many immigration benefits that enhance the status of immigrants who are already here.
Grassley is cosponsoring the bill with Sens. Ted Kennedy, Sam Brownback and Pat Leahy. The proposals in the bipartisan bill were recommended jointly by the State Department and the FBI in a 1997 report. They also were requested in the antiterrorism proposal made this week by the Justice Department.
"Last week's tragic events taught us that we can do more to improve U.S. security." Grassley said. "If one federal agency has information that will help us achieve that goal, we want to make sure that other relevant agencies have access to that information as well."