Sep
25
According to a new report from the Government Accountability Office, an official government program meant to diversify US immigration may be a loophole for potential terrorists to gain entry into the US.
The ‘Diversity Visa’ (also known as the ‘Green Card Lottery’) allows a number of immigrants from specific countries to gain entry to the US every year and receive an immediate Green Card.
In the past seven years the program has allowed almost 10,000 immigrants from countries the US government has accused of sponsoring terrorism (including Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan and Syria).
Despite the fact that no immigrants who have entered the US through the Diversity Visa have ever been linked to terrorism, the 51-page report recommends that the program should be overhauled due to the high level of risk, plus ongoing fraud.
However, the State Department strongly opposes the report as the 55,000 lottery winners are thoroughly screened before entering the US and being granted their Green Cards.
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