Israel

July 1, 2011

U.S. immigration includes Israel on watch list

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Israel is on a list compiled by U.S. immigration authorities of countries that might harbor terrorists.

The Department of Homeland Security list of 36 nations does not fault government policies and instead recognizes the likelihood that a suspect traveler from that country might have terrorist ties.

If a traveler from one of the countries is detained, the country’s inclusion on the list triggers a special check by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement division.

The list, attached to a May 10 document from the DHS Inspector General’s office, was first reported this week by CNS News, a Christian news service.

An ICE spokeswoman, Gillian Christensen, told CNS that appearance on the list did not suggest a country backs terrorism.

“The U.S. does not and never has considered Israel to have links to terrorism, but rather they are a partner in our efforts to combat global terrorism,” Christensen said. “Countries may have been included on the list because of the backgrounds of arrestees, not because of the country’s government itself. The United States maintains close intelligence-sharing relationships with many of these countries in order to address security issues within their own borders and in our mutual pursuit of safety and security around the globe.”

The list includes a number of other close U.S. allies, like Turkey, Bahrain, Morocco and Philippines, as well as nations beset by internal fighting, like Sudan and Somalia.

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Hopefully Americans will have a new president 2012 and we can get the USA Israeli relationship back where it should be….Hold on brothers and sisters.

Comment by John on 7/01/11 at 10:40 am

It is very dissapointing that the Obama regime would take such a turn.  We should not be voting in the next election for this man.  Think of all of the Jews that helped to finance his campaign.  Does putting Israel on this list make sense when no Israeli took part in 9/11 nor anything similar.  This is a slap in the face to all Jews. We should write letters of protest over this discriminatory process whereby the only allies of the US are under close scrutiny by the US.  Many may know that these terrorists are coming through the borders of Mexico and Canada, sneaking in from Arab countries, and are not on an El Al airplane.  Delta airlines should be under scrutiny.

Comment by monica on 7/02/11 at 12:01 pm

This is embarrassing to me as an American.

Comment by John on 7/02/11 at 9:50 pm

shocking news:
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4090528,00.html

even if you don’t agree with israel, you can’t ignore our brothers and sisters in europe.
we should all stand together in the face of antismitisem this time. protecting our big family. cause this is what makes jews so special we are not chosen we are a family!

i expect from the jews of israel to stand for the jews of europe and america and from the jews of america to stand for the jews of europe and israel.
just like a family would do!!!

Comment by ariel on 7/03/11 at 11:46 am

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