Judiciary Republicans Demand Answers from State, DHS and FBI on Terrorist who Attacked Texas Synagogue
WASHINGTON
– A group of Republican senators on the Senate Judiciary Committee, led by Ranking
Member Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), are demanding answers from each federal agency
charged with protecting Americans from terrorists like Malik Faisal Akram, the
British national who held four people hostage at Beth Israel Congregation in Colleyville,
Texas.
Akram
was admitted to the United States despite his criminal record and security
investigations by British domestic intelligence.
“In
light of the numerous red flags in Akram’s record, we are extremely concerned
about the adequacy of our visa adjudication and admission screening protocols.
As Akram’s own brother told reporters: ‘How had he gotten into America? … Why
was he granted a visa? How did he land at J.F.K. airport and not get stopped
for one second?’” the senators wrote to the Secretaries of State and
Homeland Security.
The
lawmakers requested a number of records including a copy of Akram’s “A-File,” and
raised questions regarding issues such as the security information sharing
agreement between the United States and United Kingdom under the Visa Waiver
Program. They further ask detailed questions about the process through which
Akram apparently entered the United States without significant scrutiny,
especially in light of previous concerns about terrorists utilizing the Visa Waiver
Program.
In
addition to their inquiry to the Departments of State and Homeland Security,
the senators sought information from the Federal Bureau of Investigation about
their intelligence sharing relationship with the United Kingdom, and their communications
with British counterparts before and after Akram’s attack. They also raised
questions about what information relating to Akram was contained in available
databases, including his criminal history and data shared by international partners.
Full
text of the senators’ letter to the State Department and DHS can be found HERE.
Their full letter to the FBI can be found HERE.
-30-
