New checks block Saudi terror suspects

WASHINGTON, Sept. 10 (UPI) -- Anti-terrorist checks at the U.S. Embassy in Saudi Arabia have blocked more than 12 visa applicants in the last year, officials tell United Press International.

Visa security officers from the Department of Homeland Security's Immigration and Customs Enforcement branch have been stationed at the embassy since September 2003 to assist consular officers there in reviewing visa applications for possible terrorist links and fraud.

The move was mandated by Congress after many lawmakers blamed the consular service for granting visas to the 15 Saudis who took part in the Sept. 11 attacks, even though their applications contained errors, omissions, and in some cases verifiably false statements.

"It's more than a dozen," Stewart Verdery, a senior Department of Homeland Security official told UPI when asked how many visa applications had been blocked by the new staff.

He spoke after telling a House panel that the department had taken on board the criticisms of an inspector general's report that had faulted the officers for poor language skills and lack of specialized training.