Correspondence between Alan Bible and Edythe Katz, 1972

JOHN L . M C C L E L L A N , A R K . , C H A I R M A N WARREN G. MAGNUSON, WASH. MILTON R. YOUNG, N. DAK. JOHN C. STENNIS, M I S S . MARGARET CHASE S M I T H , M A I N E JOHN O. PASTORE, R . I . ROMAN L . HRUSKA, NEBR. A L A N B I B L E , NEV. GORDON A L L O T T , COLO. ROBERT C. BYRD, W . VA. NORRIS COTTON, N.H. GALE W. MCGEE, WYO. CLIFFORD P. CASE, N . J . M I K E M A N S F I E L D , MONT. HIRAM L . FONG, HAWAII W I L L I A M PROXMIRE, W I S . J. C A L E B BOGGS, DEL. JOSEPH M . MONTOYA, N . M E X . EDWIJRYO F F F F I P R T S ' M A S S . D A N I E L K . INOUYE, HAWAII MARK O. H A T F I E L D , OREG. ERNEST F. HOLLINGS, S.C. TED STEVENS, A L A S K A BIRCH BAYH, IND. THOMAS J. SCOTT, C H I E F CLERK W M . W. WOODRUFF, COUNSEL UNITED STATES SENATE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS WASHINGTON, D.C. 20510 October 25, 1972 Mrs. Lloyd Katz 1273 Park Circle Las Vegas, Nevada 89102 Dear Edith: As Mike Sloan indicated to you on the phone, I have received word that the State Department has established new procedures to screen and detect potential terrorists who are seeking to enter the United States. Most of the details of these procedures are outlined in the enclosed letter from Assistant Secretary of State, David Abshire. Additionally, I have been informed that in line with your suggestion^ the issuance of visas to Arab visitors and students has been tightened and that certain Arab student organizations in this country have been placed under surveillance. The Munich and Lod Airport tragedies have again demon-strated that Arab fanatics have no regard for human l i fe and will attempt to strike anytime, anywhere. I only hope that these new pro-cedures will reduce the possibility that such tragedies will occur in this country. As you may know, following the Lod Airport massacre, I sup-ported Senator Ribicoff's proposal to convene a world conference on airline security standards and provide sanctions against governments which refuse to cooperate in seeking to prevent air terrorism and piracy. Please be assured that I continue to support every possible measure to put an end to such terrorist activities. Enclosure October 15, 1972 Senator Alan Bible United States Senate Washington, D. C. 20510 Dear Senator Bible: I have received your letter of September 12, 1972, in which you express your concern, and that of your con-stituents about the possibility of terrorists entering the United States. In view of the recent outbreak of terrorist incidents around the world, the Department of State, in cooper-ation with other Government agencies, has instituted a special screening process designed to identify visa applicants who are members of organizations which engage in terrorist activity or who, for other reasons, might be expected to engage in such activity. Such aliens are denied visas to enter the United States, and every effort is made to preclude their illegal entry. This done under the authority of Sections 212(a) (27), 212(a)(28)(F), and 212(a)(29) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended. These sections, inter alia, deny entry into the United States to oliens who intend to engage in illegal activities, or activities which would be prejudicial to the public interest, or endanger the welfare, safety, or security of the United States, We believe that these provisions of the Law provide sufficient legislative authority for dealing with problems of this nature, and do not, therefore, anticipate that further legislation would be required. Aliens who have been deported from the United States are ineligible to re-enter the United States, or even to apply for a visa, unless they have obtained advance permission to apply for entry into the United States from the Immigration and Naturalization Service. Applications for such permission are very carefully screened, and I can assure you that permission is only granted when it has been determined to be in the best interest of the United States to do so. Even after receiving permission to reapply, cases of deportees are scrutinized by consular officers with exceeding care before visas are issued. I hope that this information will be helpful to you, and please do not hesitate to call on me whenever you believe that I can be of assistance. Sincerely yours, David M. Abshire Assistant Secretary for Congressional Relations A L L E N J . E L L E N D E R , L A . , C H A I R M A N JOHN L . M C C L E L L A N , ARK. WARREN G. MAGNUSON, WASH. JOHN C . S T E N N I S , M I S S . JOHN O . PASTORE, R . I . A L A N B I B L E , NEV. ROBERT C. B Y R D , W . V A . GALE W . M C G E E , WYO. M I K E M A N S F I E L D , MONT. W I L L I A M P R O X M I R E , W I S . JOSEPH M . MONTOYA, N. M E X . D A N I E L K . INOUYE, HAWAII ERNEST F. H O L L I N G S , S.C. M I L T O N R. YOUNG, N. DAK MARGARET C H A S E S M I T H , M A I N E ROMAN L . H R U S K A , NEBR. GORDON A L L O T T , COLO. NORRIS COTTON, N.H. C L I F F O R D P. CASE, N.J. H I R A M L . FONG, H A W A I I J . C A L E B BOGGS, D E L . UNITED STATES SENATE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS WASHINGTON. D.C. 20510 EDWL !E, MASS. M A R K O. M T F I E L D , OREG. T E D STEVENS, A L A S K A THOMAS J. SCOTT, C H I E F C L E R K W M . W . WOODRUFF, COUNSEL September 12, 1972 Mrs. Lloyd Katz 1273 Park Circle Las Vegas, Nevada 89102 Dear Edith: This will advise you I was apprised of your call and concern with reference to foreign exchange students entering the United States. I fully agree with you that these students must be given a thorough security check before permitting them entry in our nation. Although it is problematical security checks will erase problems such as the dreadful tragedy in Munich, they will at least provide some safeguards. I am today addressing a letter to the State Department expressing my concern in this connection. Thank you for calling this matter to my attention With all good wishes to you and Lloyd, Cordially; C J ALAN BIBLE NEVADA W A S H I N G T O N , D . C . 2 0 3 10 August 21, 197U A P P R O P R I A T I O N S C O M M I T T E E C H A I R M A N , I N T E R I O R S U B C O M M I T T E E I N T E R I O R C O M M I T T E E C H A I R M A N , P A R K S A N D R E C R E A T I O N S U B C O M M I T T E E J O I N T C O M M I T T E E O N A T O M I C E N E R G Y C H A I R M A N . S E L E C T C O M M I T T E E O N S M A L L B U S I N E S S S P E C I A L C O M M I T T E E O N A G I N G Mrs. Thalia Dondero 808 Bonita Avenue Las Vegas, Nevada 8910!+ Dear Mrs. Dondero: Thank you for your letter of August 10th, which reached me the 17th, expressing your interest in the Senate's deliberations on assistance to Israel. The legislation under consideration, S. 339*+> is authorizing legislation and will require a later appropria-tion. The authorized legislation provides for some $250 million in economic aid and $300 million in credit sales, $100 million of which would be immediately forgiven. The Senate Foreign Rela-tions Committee has completed its action on the bill and is in the process of reporting this action to the Senate floor. I recognize that Israel has been a longtime friend and ally of the United.States and I want to assure you that I agree that it is important to maintain a balance of military capability in the Middle East. You may be sure I will give this problem sympathetic consideration when it comes to the floor. Cordially, ALAN BIBLE AB:mj