On Visas, No More American Express
The State Department would lose some of its visa-issuing authority to the new Department of Homeland Security under both House and Senate versions of bill creating the new department, the Washington Post reports.
The House bill includes provisions that "allow members of the Homeland Security Department to be placed in consular offices," where they could "review visa applications and order some rejected" and "give 'expert advice and training' to consular officers on security threats."
The Senate bill allows for stationing security people in consulates but not giving them the power to reject applicants.
8-6-02
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