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U.S. NEWSTuesday 1 December 2015

US House may move quickly to overhaul visa waiver program

House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy of Calif., left, and House Majority Whip Steve Scalise of La., formation sharing with oth- — it admits some 20 million
stride from the House chamber on Capitol Hill in Washington. er countries. visitors to the U.S. each year
The so-called visa waiver — makes it a potential se-
(AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) program lets people from curity concern.
38 countries visit the U.S. for By contrast, the number
ERICA WERNER come under criticism fol- legislation “I think the coun- 90-day stays without ob- of Syrian refugees enter-
AP Congressional Corre- lowing the Paris terror at- try will be less safe,” the taining a visa. It has come ing the U.S. is much small-
spondent tacks. California Republican said. under scrutiny following the er, numbering fewer than
WASHINGTON (AP) — Con- House Majority Leader Kev- At the same time, the Paris terror attacks since 2,500. The House voted
gress may move quickly to in McCarthy told reporters White House announced several of the suspected earlier this month to crack
overhaul a program that Monday that he was look- a series of changes aimed perpetrators were from Bel- down on the refugee pro-
allows travel to the U.S. with ing at action before the at improving the program, gium and France, which gram, over objections from
no visa, something that has end of the year. Without including more terrorism in- are countries on the list. the White House.
McCarthy outlined five The visa legislation or the
changes House Republi- Syria refugee legislation
cans would like to see to could be added to a must-
the program. They include pass year-end spending
requiring all countries to is- bill. Sens. Dianne Feinstein,
sue electronic passports; a Democrat, D-California,
ensuring that all passen- and Jeff Flake, a Republi-
gers are screened against can., are working on a visa
a database of lost and waiver bill they hope to in-
stolen passports; and kick- troduce in the Senate this
ing countries out of the week. It would bar anyone
visa waiver program if they who traveled to Syria or Iraq
aren’t abiding by require- in the last five years from
ments. coming to the U.S. under
Changing the visa waiver the visa waiver program.
program appears to have However, the travel indus-
bipartisan support in the try is concerned about an
House and the Senate and approach suggested by
general agreement from Feinstein that would require
the White House. Many additional biometric infor-
lawmakers note that the mation from travelers be-
large scope of the program fore they arrive in the U.S.q

Donald Trump meets with black pastors at ‘amazing meeting’

JILL COLVIN was advertised as such by from more than 100 black sition as clergy.” Earlier this among other errors. Trump
Associated Press Trump’s Republican presi- religious leaders. month, a black protester said after Monday’s meet-
NEW YORK (AP) — Donald dential campaign. In the letter, the group was roughed up by Trump ing that he would not
Trump met with a group of Trump has been courting wrote that “Trump’s racial- supporters at a rally in Bir- change his tone as a can-
black pastors for several the support of evangelical ly inaccurate, insensitive mingham, Alabama. Trump didate, which he said had
hours Monday, calling the black clergy members as and incendiary rhetoric said after the incident, taken him to “first position”
session an “amazing meet- he works to broaden his ap- should give those charged “Maybe he should have in preference polls.
ing” that went longer than peal in a crowded Republi- with the care of the spirits been roughed up because “The beautiful thing about
planned because “we can field. Darrell Scott, the and souls of black people it was absolutely disgusting the meeting is that they
came up with lots of good senior pastor of New Spirit great pause.” They also ex- what he was doing.” didn’t really ask me to
ideas.” Revival Center in Ohio, said pressed concern that the Trump also drew criticism change the tone,” Trump
But there was no wide- more than 100 preachers meeting Monday would recently for retweeting said. “I think they really
ranging endorsement from from across the country at- “give Trump the appear- an image of inaccurate want to see victory, be-
the group, some of whom tended the meeting, de- ance of legitimacy among statistics that vastly over- cause ultimately it is about,
had said they were sur- spite criticism in an open those who follow your lead- represented the number we want to win and we
prised when the gathering letter in Ebony magazine ership and respect your po- of whites killed by blacks, want to win together.”q