Grassley's letters are based on an internal Immigration and Naturalization Service report that shows poor judgment and human error from INS officials, watch list mistakes and poor training and procedures led to the suspected terrorist obtaining citizenship.
"Americans cannot afford to have the authorities dropping the ball when it comes to keeping terrorists out of the country. There is just too much at stake," Grassley said. "The FBI and Homeland Security must make sure this is an isolated incident and not the tip of the iceberg.People who want to become Americans and be an important part of this country are being shoved aside while this suspected terrorist got the golden prize of immigration - American citizenship. How does this happen?"
Grassley said the report found systemic problems at both agencies that raise the possibility that an unknown number of other suspected terrorists took advantage of loopholes and gained citizenship.
The report also found that the entire Newark, New Jersey, INS office incorrectly used the Interagency Border Inspection System (IBIS) watch list. Even more alarming, the report states that the FBI's deficient method of checking citizenship applicants for terrorist links, which contributed to this incident, has been in use for the last 17 years.
Grassley is a senior member of the Senate Judiciary Committee. He has conducted oversight of federal agencies for several years, including the Justice Department, FBI, and INS.
Letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge
Letter to Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Robert Mueller