Summary
After the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001, the U.S. government acted to expand the budget, staffing, and powers of the immigration enforcement bureaucracy. This law authorized the hiring of additional INS investigators and inspectors and expanded screening procedures for admission, as well as mechanisms for tracking deportable aliens within the United States.
Source
Summary from Congress.gov:
Passed Senate amended (04/18/2002) Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry Reform Act of 2002
– Title I: Funding – Directs the Attorney General, during each of FY 2003 through 2006, to increase the number of Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) investigators and inspectors by at least 200 full-time employees over the number authorized by the USA PATRIOT ACT.Authorizes appropriations for INS, Border Patrol, and consular personnel, training, facilities, and security-related technology, effective October 1, 2002. Provides for machine-readable visa fees.
Title II: Interagency Information Sharing – Directs U.S. law enforcement and intelligence entities to share alien admissibility- and deportation-related information with INS and the Department of State until implementation of the information sharing plan provided for by this title . . . .
Title III: Visa Issuance – Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act (Act) to direct the Secretary of State (Secretary), upon issuance of an alien visa, to provide INS with an electronic version of the alien’s visa file prior to the alien’s U.S. entry . . . .
(Sec. 304) Directs the Secretary to:
(1) establish a Terrorist Lookout Committee at each U.S. mission, and report to the appropriate congressional committees respecting such Committees;
(2) provide consular staff with visa screening training; and
(3) provide for the use of terrorist-related intelligence in such activities’ performance. Authorizes appropriations.
(Sec. 306) Prohibits the admission of an alien from a country designated to be a state sponsor of international terrorism (as defined by this Act) unless the Secretary has determined that such individual does not pose a risk or security threat to the United States . . . .
Requires INS to perform a check of lookout databases prior to permitting an alien’s U.S. admission . . . .
Title V: Foreign Students and Exchange Visitors – Amends the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 to direct the Attorney General to develop an electronic means of verifying and monitoring the foreign student and exchange visitor information program . . . .
