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US visa exemption rules in Republican crosshairs
FRIDAY, May 5, 2017
Indian woman at dye works
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ASHINGTON, | AFP | 5/3/2017 Congressional Republicans sounded an alarm Wednesday over rules allowing millions of Europeans to travel to the United States without a visa, warning that jihadists could exploit weak links in the program. The Islamic State and AlQaeda extremist groups “have incurred great losses in Syria and Iraq,” Michael McCaul, chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, told a hearing on the security of the US Visa Waiver Program (VWP).
May is Elder Abuse Prevention Month
Adult Protective Services urges Texans to get involved to stop self-neglect
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he Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) works to protect the unprotected, and that includes the elderly members of our communities. May is Elder Abuse Prevention Month in Texas, and it’s the perfect time to check on elderly friends and neighbors. Do you have an elderly neighbor who can no longer keep up their home, isn’t taking care of his or herself, or needs medical care? You may be the only person who knows or cares. “Abuse may get the headlines, but one of the most common situations we encounter is self-neglect,” said Kez Wold, DFPS associate commissioner for Adult Protective Services (APS). “Sometimes when people become ill or depressed, they quit trying or simply can’t care for themselves without some help. That’s when someone needs to make a call to the Texas Abuse Hotline.” State law requires anyone who suspects adult abuse, neglect or financial exploitation to report it to the Texas Abuse Hotline at 1-800-252-5400 or online at TxAbuseHotline.org. Callers can remain anonymous. Learn how to recognize adult abuse, neglect and exploitation at EveryonesBusiness.org In May, APS is joining with community, civic and professional groups to raise awareness and understanding about abuse, neglect and exploitation through conferences, presentations and other events. Learn about events in your area at EveryonesBusiness.org and please share them with your friends, neighbors and colleagues. Last year, APS investigated the situations of 83,534 people who were living at home and found that 51,608 of them suffered one or more forms of abuse, neglect or exploitation. Self-neglect was at least one factor for most of those people. APS’ job is to investigate these situations and connect people with the services in their communities they need. Adult Protective Services Facts and Figures APS is a program of DFPS and a part of the Texas Health and Human Services system. The mission of APS is to protect adults, who are elderly or have disabilities, from abuse, neglect and exploitation. APS does this by investigating allegations and by providing or arranging for services to alleviate or prevent further mistreatment. APS serves Texas residents who are 65 years or older or who are 18 to 64 and have a disability. There are 3.3 million Texas residents who are 65 or older and more than 1.7 million people with a disability who are ages 18-64. More information is available in the Department of Family and Protective Services Annual Report and Data Book on the DFPS website (dfps.state. tx.us).
Millions of travelers from 38 wealthy countries are currently allowed to come to the United States for 90 days without having to go through a lengthy visa process. “Yet as the territory under their control shrinks, we are seeing an exodus of foreign fighters returning to their homelands,” he said.
through the Visa Waiver Program,” said Gallagher, who heads the Task Force on Denying Terrorists Entry to the United States.
House Republican Mike Gallagher pointed to deadly attacks in Paris, Brussels, Nice and Berlin as examples of why the US should increase its vigilance.
“While there are numerous benefits to our country that stem from our welcoming immigration system -- like tourism, trade, and business -- we should never cease to examine our processes through the lens of a terrorist in search of potential gaps.”
“The majority of these attackers were European citizens with valid passports, so it is easy to imagine any one of them gaining access to this country through a valid visa or
Millions of travelers from 38 wealthy countries, including 30 European nations, currently
A woman is setting printed fabric on the ground to dry in Sanganer, India. (Photo: Jose Vilchez) benefit from the exemption, which allows them to come to the United States for 90 days without having to go through a lengthy visa process. Only a simple Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) form need be filled out online beforehand. But since the attacks that
bloodied France in 2015, committed by or with the help of jihadists bearing French or Belgian passports, many lawmakers see the exemption as a dangerous security flaw. In December 2015, a few weeks after the Paris attacks, Congress tightened VWP rules, banning people from using the exemption if they had traveled
after March 2011 to any of seven countries deemed to be risks: Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. It also barred citizens from VWP countries who had dual nationalities from Iran, Iraq, Sudan or Syria -- for example a Frenchman with Syrian citizenship -- from taking advantage of the exemption.