“I am outraged that the INS is even considering this proposal,” Pallone said during his speech on the House floor.  “The proposal will in no way fight terrorism and only serves to trample on the legitimate visits from relatives with legitimate residents of the United States.” 

“This new proposal severely undermines the family structure of U.S. residents who have loved ones living in a foreign country,” Pallone continued. “The new proposal also severely jeopardizes an important segment of the U.S. economy that depends on foreign tourists.”

Pallone said if visitors are provided only a 30-day visa, it is likely that upon entrance to the U.S., these visitors will apply for a visa extension.  This type of extra paperwork is the exact reason why the INS extended the visitors visa to six months - so that tourists could accomplish the purpose of their visit, leave the U.S. within the given time here and not further overload the INS.  This will not be case if the 30-day limit is implemented.  

The New Jersey Congressman also said visitors coming to the U.S. don't come here to get jobs or to try to stay here, rather, they come to visit family and travel throughout the country.  The airline and tourism industries would be drastically affected by the decrease in visits to the U.S. that would be a result of visitors finding that 30 days is not worth the great effort required to visit.

Pallone said the plan does not accomplish the goals of improving homeland security and preventing terrorists from entering our country.

“Although I believe that INS reform is badly needed to better address our homeland security concerns, I am completely convinced that limiting visitor visas to 30 days will do nothing to better protect us from terrorists and will in fact only place severe, undue burdens on the lawful, decent individuals abroad who come to visit the U.S.,” Pallone continued.  “The INS is arbitrarily changing this law in response to September 11, but the change will be ineffectual in preventing further terrorism.”