January 5, 2005
Here's a story that does not inspire much confidence in our ability to control American borders.
The Department of Homeland Security's Inspector General says that of 176 passports identified as stolen, 136 of the passport holders gained admission to this country.
The admissions occurred even though the fraudulent documents had been posted on the government's computerized "lookout" lists.
In a conclusion that is so obvious I'm amazed anyone could write it, the department's acting Inspector General, Richard L. Skinner, said, "while most persons using stolen passports to enter illegally into the United States may be simply violating immigration laws, some could have more sinister intentions."
Well, duh!
We saw those sinister intentions on September 11, 2001.
We're told others who wish to harm us again are already in this country.
How does Mr. Skinner know that "most" of those entering on fraudulent passports do for reasons other than to kill us?
If they can't flag the fake documents, how can we be sure of their motives?
This is worse than shocking.
It is pathetic.
I'm Cal Thomas in Washington.
Cal Thomas is a nationally syndicated columnist based in Washington, D.C. Watch his television show, After Hours with Cal Thomas, on the Fox News Channel, Saturdays at 11 p.m. Eastern Time.
