Many illegals arrive here with visas, but never leave

Half the illegal aliens in the U.S. avoid the Mexico-U.S. border. They enter the U.S. by other routes, with many simply arriving by commercial jet. Expired student and tourist visas, phony marriages, unchecked container ships and the Canadian border all contribute much to illegal immigration.

That’s especially true for terrorists. Twelve known al-Qaida operatives. including two conspirators in the 1993 World Trade Center attack and four of the 9/11 terrorists, just flew into the U.S. and were admitted on student or tourist visas. They violated those visas by staying past the expiration date, a practice that is not uncommon.

The Pew Hispanic Center estimated in 2006 that about 45 per cent of illegals entered the U.S. with a legal visa, then ignored its expiration date and simply did not leave. The General Accounting Office released a report in 2004 stating that the Department of Homeland Security hasn’t got a clue how many “overstayers” are presently in the U.S.

Dr. George Weissinger, a former Immigration agent and associate professor at Briarcliffe College, says “At least half the illegal aliens in the U.S. came in legally through tourist or non-immigrant visas, but their intention was not to visit, but to stay,” he says.