Admitting Terror - INS had Atta in Custody, let him go

Miami New Times ^ | October 18, 2001 | Bob Norman

[Terry Mross]

He was taken into the "hard room" and asked, "Are you a democrat?" When he answered, "Yes", he was allowed to go on his happy way. I'd bet good money or bad money the DMC was there to register him to vote.

[gogov]

Thanks for posting this. Does anybody else notice that we hear about every day how the FBI has detained about 700 people, but we never hear about any being arrested or deported? The "war" on terrorism is a big, fat joke.

Worth repeating. I agree with you.

[thathamiltonwoman]

I keep hoping there will be a major shakeup in the INS. I guess more of us are going to have to die before it happens.

[Mulder]

Good post.

I went through more of a background check the last time I bought a new gun than these murderous sand goblins went through to get into this country, board a commercial airliner, and murder 5000 innocent people.

All in the name of "diversity" and more votes for the Nazi party in America.

[Brownie74]

FYI BUMP!!

[Mulder]

The people responsible for some of these decisions should be tried for treason against the United States.

If convicted by a jury of their peers, they should be promptly hung.

[Enlightiator]

Doris Meissner is a disgrace to this country. Her INS was and currently still is a joke. She used it to serve the selfish and corrupt political purposes of the Clinton White House. Meissner had hundreds of agents to send in after a little boy, Elian Gonzales, at the bequest of Janet Reno, but did nothing to secure our borders to prevent criminals and terrorists from entering.

[col kurz]

To make airport inspectors Federal employees as are the imigration and customs slugs is laughable. The drones that defend our borders (for the most part) just want to put in their eight hours and go home. Federalizing retired military,(they're still on the payroll), with added pay would help this situation,IMHO

[col kurz]

To make airport inspectors Federal employees as are the imigration and customs slugs is laughable. The drones that defend our borders (for the most part) just want to put in their eight hours and go home. Federalizing retired military,(they're still on the payroll), with added pay would help this situation,IMHO

[classygreeneyedblonde]

I think every dept. of the goverment needs a good shakedown there have been too many negelent cases.It's time to clean house

[col kurz]

Sorry for the double post, but while I'am "oversharing" may I add, we need a force to round up all the illegals now within our borders, another reason for calling up all retired military/and or vets, give an outlet for many of us to do our part...

[Rome2000]

btt

[okiedokie]

I might be just a "stupid okie" from the heartland, but why in God's name are we still letting these middle eastern men enter our country(refer to the NewsMax article on the 14 Syrians in Dallas for "flight training")? Why can't we deport all middle eastern males in this country who are not citizens of this country? If not, why won't the government protect it's own citizens. I am outraged. Oh, and by the way, I have not heard one comment on why that monster Mohammed Atta was wearing white gloves as he was entering the airport to board the plane than killed thousands of our citizens. I found that very odd when I saw the picture of him on the security tape just after the Sept 11 attack. Well, now we all know. His hands were raw from anthrax exposure and he did not want to draw suspicion to those his raw hands, or are the authorities not willing to admit it. All the government is doing now is having meetings about limiting student visas from terrorist countries. What will it take? We should have passed a law a month ago banning visas and another to deport non-citizens from these terroist countries. Who cares about racial profiling. Our lives are in danger. Is there anyone listening in Washington?

[Marine Inspector]

The 34-year-old Egyptian arrived at Miami International Airport earlier this year on a flight from Spain. His intention, he told immigration inspectors, was to learn to fly planes. Because he planned to go to school, the tourist visa he had used on a previous visit was invalid; the law required that he obtain a student visa from a U.S. consulate before entering the country. Following INS procedure, an inspector stopped Atta at the immigration line and sent him to "hard secondary," a room where intense investigations of suspected illegal aliens are supposed to take place.

Had INS management strictly enforced federal law, it would have deported Atta. Instead officers decided to waive the requirement that he have a proper visa. Further, the agency didn't even make Atta fill out necessary forms or pay a $170 fine, as required under law.

INS Supervisory Inspectors have broad powers of discretion.

Inspectors are encouraged/instructed to use the least amount of authority/power as possible.

This is how I heard it: When Atta entered, he stated on primary that he was a visitor, and was thinking of taking flight lessons. This statement was alone might not get you sent to secondary. The officer on primary, may inform the subject that flight lessons would be a violation of his visitor visa and let him know that he would be subject to deportation, if he was caught by INS.

Depending how the subject acts on primary, depends on if he is referred to secondary.

In secondary, the same thing would be stated, and if the subject states that he still wants to attend flight school, he can be offered a Waiver of Documents, which cost $170.

Atta most likely stated that he would not attend flight school and would just visit friends or family, and was then let in on his B2 visa.

Atta was not dumb and was probably convincing, and as such released.

Depending on the Inspectors, he could have been refused entry and removed, forced to pay $170 or be removed or convice the inspectors that he would not attend flight school, and be aloud to enter.

[testforecho]

The INS's response was in the Post yesterday:

Atta Skillfully Evaded Authorities in the U.S.

"Published reports that Immigration officers improperly allowed terrorist Mohamed Atta to enter the United States at Miami International Airport are factually incorrect," the INS said in a statement yesterday. The agency was reacting to a report in the Miami Herald that the INS had missed a chance to stop the 33-year-old Egyptian before last month's hijackings.

[XBob]

The INS doesn't check anybody going out, therefore, they don't know if a person has overstayed his visa or not. This needs to be changed.

[Clinton's a rapist]

Bump for the civil rights of visiting terrorists.

[Stew Padasso]

Look like we need some volunteers in the INS. This may have been prevented.