Senate Hearing on U.S. Visa Program Security
January 1, 2017
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The Frame
The hearing evaluates the effectiveness of inter-agency cooperation between the State Department, USCIS, and ICE in managing visa security to prevent national security threats.
Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.
International travelers and visa applicants
Changes to visa security protocols directly impact the processing and requirements for individuals seeking entry into the U.S.
Federal immigration agencies
The agencies are subject to congressional oversight regarding their coordination and security procedures.
Last recorded activity January 1, 2017.
Next step not available in the current record.
Summary
Key Facts
- The hearing took place on March 15, 2016, in the Dirksen Senate Office Building.
- The committee focused on inter-agency coordination between the State Department, USCIS, and ICE.
- Chairman Johnson identified visa overstays and student visa vulnerabilities as primary security concerns.
- The hearing examined the post-9/11 restructuring of immigration agencies into the Department of Homeland Security.
- Witnesses included senior officials from the State Department, USCIS, ICE, and the DHS Inspector General.
- The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) submitted a statement for the record.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the main goal of this hearing?
Who testified at the hearing?
Why It Matters
The hearing evaluates the effectiveness of inter-agency cooperation between the State Department, USCIS, and ICE in managing visa security to prevent national security threats.
News Coverage
Lobbying Activity
A STREET STRATEGIES
on behalf of National Association of Convenience Stores
2026
“Issues relating to renewable fuels and energy policy Issues relating to UST regulations Issues relating to renewable fuels standard implementation Issues relating to retailer liability associated with selling alternative and renewable fuels Issues relating to the gasoline and diesel fuel excise tax Issues relating to Biodiesel Blenders' Tax Credit Issues relating to the Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property tax credit Issues relating to Gas prices and fuel markets, price gouging E15 RVP waiver”
121 Strategies & Government Relations
on behalf of Secure ID Coalition
2016
“Protection of consumer personal identifiable information; Identity theft; Medical identity theft; protection of personal health information; EMV - chip card payment technology platform transition; e-Authentication; mobile payment; data breach protection; health data breach protection; multi-factor authentication - eliminating usernames and passwords.”
121 Strategies & Government Relations
on behalf of Secure ID Coalition
2016
“Protection of consumer personal identifiable information; Identity theft; Medical identity theft; protection of personal health information; EMV - chip card payment technology platform transition; e-Authentication; mobile payment; data breach protection; health data breach protection; multi-factor authentication - eliminating usernames and passwords.”
121 Strategies & Government Relations
on behalf of Gemalto, Inc.
2016
“Financial services data breach; Financial Services Credit & Debit Card Transition to EMV chip based cards, Protection of consumer personally identifiable information; Healthcare data breach; Medical identity theft; Healthcare fraud, waste and abuse.”
121 Strategies & Government Relations
on behalf of Secure ID Coalition
2016
“Protection of consumer personal identifiable information; Identity theft; Medical identity theft; protection of personal health information; EMV - chip card payment technology platform transition; e-Authentication; mobile payment; data breach protection; health data breach protection.”
121 Strategies & Government Relations
on behalf of Gemalto, Inc.
2016
“Financial services data breach; Financial Services Credit & Debit Card Transition to EMV chip based cards, Protection of consumer personally identifiable information; Healthcare data breach; Medical identity theft; Healthcare fraud, waste and abuse.”
121 Strategies & Government Relations
on behalf of Secure ID Coalition
2016
“Protection of consumer personal identifiable information; Identity theft; Medical identity theft; protection of personal health information; EMV payment tecnology platform transition; e-Authentication; mobile payment; data breach protection; health data breach protection.”
121 Strategies & Government Relations
on behalf of Secure ID Coalition
2015
“Protection of consumer personal identifiable information; Identity theft; Medical identity theft; protection of personal health information; EMV (Europay, MasterCard, Visa)payment technology platform transition; e-Authentication; mobile payment; data breach protection; health data breach protection.”
121 Strategies & Government Relations
on behalf of Secure ID Coalition
2015
“Protection of consumer personal identifiable information; Identity theft; Medical identity theft; protection of personal health information; EMV (Europay, MasterCard, Visa)payment technology platform transition; e-Authentication; mobile payment; data breach protection; health data breach protection.”
121 Strategies & Government Relations
on behalf of Secure ID Coalition
2015
“Protection of consumer personal identifiable information; Identity theft; Medical identity theft; protection of personal health information; EMV (Europay, MasterCard, Visa)payment technology platform transition; e-Authentication; mobile payment; data breach protection; health data breach protection”
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Post-9/11 Agency Fragmentation
The hearing highlights the ongoing challenge of coordinating security missions across multiple agencies (State, USCIS, ICE) that were separated following the creation of the Department of Homeland Security.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.govinfo.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance65How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy40Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz15Current news / social attention level
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