American Foreign Service Association

2101 E Slreel NW Washington, DC 20037 (202) 33fi-4M{>

FAX (202) 338-C820 E-niail afsaealsa.org

December 27, 2002

Mr. Clark Kent Ervin. Inspector (j^neral

Office of the Inspector General
Room 6817
Deportment of State
Hairy S. Truman Building
Washington DC

De;-r Mr. F.rvin:

I arn writing to take exception to several comments made in the recently issued report,
"Revic» ofNuuimrruKrant Visa Issuance Policy and Procedures." Frankly, AFSA
belbvcs that the comments, throw away lines like "Other considerations, including
idertifyins potential terrorists, received less attention." detract from what is otherwise a
workmanlike and useful report. Indeed, AFSA has advocated many of the
recrmmcndations in the report, especially those that advocate mute consular positions,
mor; and better training, better supervision, etc.

13lit cunnutfnis which have no foundation m fy::.i and serve only to disparage both
members of the Foreign Service and Department leadership, make the report less
credible. I note from the news repuib that journalists immediately focussed on the
disparaging comments rather than on the constructive recommendations. AFSA. exported
a less personalized report from your office.

I tak; exception to rhr romment on page 12 in the discussion of staffing that the consular
lour "is often considered a period rii be endured and kept as short as possible." This is
swij.1} inaccurate. Consular work is hard, especially at posts like Manila and Santo
Dorr.ingo where demand is high, fraud is high and staffing shortages prevail. But *
untenurcd officers and thcil consular tune supervisors, who are on the visa .tront lines,
cede to no one their concern for their country's security and their appreciation for the role
visa adjudication plays in securing our border's.

AFS A alsn takes exception to the report's summary that states, "A fundamental
readjustment by Department leadership regarding visa issuance and denial has not taken
place. The Department Still does nni hilly appreciate the consular function as part of a
oooulinatcd national effort to manage security... " A1;SA believes that the record
demonstrates the contrary. The Department and its leadership tiilly appreciate the
conr.ulor function and the role of visa issuance in national security.
 c
Finally, nowhere does the report acknowledge what has been known since September 1 1 ,
2001:

• "[T)here was no way. without prior identification of these people as terrorists through
either law enforcement or intelligence channels and the conveyance ofrhar
linowledge to consular officers abroad, for their intentions to be uncovered."'

• ' [Identification by intelligence and law enforcement and the sharing of rhat data with
consular officers abroad is a critical component of fighting terrorism through visa
policies." "

Without mention of this absolutely key element uf information sharing, your report
makes ii appear that improving training, resolving staffing shortages, standardizing
personal appearance waiver programs, and creating a model travel agent referral program
will keep terrorists out. Even if all the current recommendations were in place two years
ago: they would not have denied visas to the terrorists.

Sincerely yours.

' Loiiise K- C
AFSA State Vice President

1 Testimony of Marc Grossman, Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs, before the
Hcoise International Relations Committee, June 26,2002
' Testimony of Grant Green, Undersecretary of State for Management, before the House
Government Reform Subcommittee on Civil Service and Agency Organization. June 26,
2002.