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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| Sessions slams visa lottery: 'It tells us nothing about who is entering this country' | Sessions slams visa lottery: 'It tells us nothing about who is entering this country' |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| The US attorney general spoke in New York City about immigration, advocating for a ‘merit-based system’ and promoting ‘extreme vetting’ policies | The US attorney general spoke in New York City about immigration, advocating for a ‘merit-based system’ and promoting ‘extreme vetting’ policies |
| What is the green card law Trump wants to scrap after the New York attack? | What is the green card law Trump wants to scrap after the New York attack? |
| Jamiles Lartey in New York | Jamiles Lartey in New York |
| Thu 2 Nov 2017 17.08 GMT | Thu 2 Nov 2017 17.08 GMT |
| Last modified on Fri 9 Feb 2018 18.36 GMT | |
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| In the wake of the deadliest terror attack in New York City since 9/11, the attorney general, Jeff Sessions, visited the city on Thursday to advocate a ramping up of anti-terror surveillance and an end to the diversity lottery visa program. | In the wake of the deadliest terror attack in New York City since 9/11, the attorney general, Jeff Sessions, visited the city on Thursday to advocate a ramping up of anti-terror surveillance and an end to the diversity lottery visa program. |
| “We don’t use random chance in college admissions and we don’t roll a die to hire people. By the same token, a lottery tells us nothing about who is entering this country,” Sessions said of the 27-year-old program designed to diversify the immigrant population in the United States. | “We don’t use random chance in college admissions and we don’t roll a die to hire people. By the same token, a lottery tells us nothing about who is entering this country,” Sessions said of the 27-year-old program designed to diversify the immigrant population in the United States. |
| Sessions, a long-time proponent of ending the program during his tenure in the Senate, advocated instead for a “merit-based” system, suggesting it would be, “by definition, safer than a lottery”. | Sessions, a long-time proponent of ending the program during his tenure in the Senate, advocated instead for a “merit-based” system, suggesting it would be, “by definition, safer than a lottery”. |
| All of the 50,000 annual recipients of diversity visas are already vetted by standard immigration requirements. To be eligible, winners must have completed either a high school education or at least two years of work experience in a skilled field. They must also demonstrate means of support, have no criminal background and be in good health. | All of the 50,000 annual recipients of diversity visas are already vetted by standard immigration requirements. To be eligible, winners must have completed either a high school education or at least two years of work experience in a skilled field. They must also demonstrate means of support, have no criminal background and be in good health. |
| Sessions followed the lead of Donald Trump, who renewed criticism of the lottery program as it emerged that the suspected New York attacker Sayfullo Saipov originally came to the US from Uzbekistan under the program in 2010. | Sessions followed the lead of Donald Trump, who renewed criticism of the lottery program as it emerged that the suspected New York attacker Sayfullo Saipov originally came to the US from Uzbekistan under the program in 2010. |
| “We are fighting hard for Merit Based immigration, no more Democrat Lottery Systems. We must get MUCH tougher (and smarter),” Trump tweeted on Wednesday. | “We are fighting hard for Merit Based immigration, no more Democrat Lottery Systems. We must get MUCH tougher (and smarter),” Trump tweeted on Wednesday. |
| To further promote the White House’s “extreme vetting” policies, Sessions also attacked the country’s refugee vetting process, which is among the most rigorous in the western world. Refugee admittance is a common target of the White House, which has scaled back the number of refugees allowed in the US and ended a temporary ban on refugee admittances in October. | To further promote the White House’s “extreme vetting” policies, Sessions also attacked the country’s refugee vetting process, which is among the most rigorous in the western world. Refugee admittance is a common target of the White House, which has scaled back the number of refugees allowed in the US and ended a temporary ban on refugee admittances in October. |
| Sessions also underlined the importance of the government’s ability to surveil overseas for intelligence purposes, citing a law criticized by civil rights groups. | Sessions also underlined the importance of the government’s ability to surveil overseas for intelligence purposes, citing a law criticized by civil rights groups. |
| The law, section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, allows the government to spy on electronic conversations without a warrant so long as a “significant” purpose of the surveillance is to gather “foreign intelligence information”. | The law, section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, allows the government to spy on electronic conversations without a warrant so long as a “significant” purpose of the surveillance is to gather “foreign intelligence information”. |
| “Today, with the international terrorist threat decentralized and increasingly online, it is more important than ever that we have this capability,” Sessions said. “Frequently, terrorists abroad plot against this country and are in contact with other terrorists in the United States. This is the key to prevention. We want to stop terrorist attacks before they occur.” | “Today, with the international terrorist threat decentralized and increasingly online, it is more important than ever that we have this capability,” Sessions said. “Frequently, terrorists abroad plot against this country and are in contact with other terrorists in the United States. This is the key to prevention. We want to stop terrorist attacks before they occur.” |
| Sessions called on Congress to authorize that section of the law, which is scheduled to expire at the end of the year, and to reject amendments some lawmakers had proposed the make the application of the law more narrow. “I want to be clear about this: section 702 does not permit the targeting of any American anywhere, or even a foreigner who is likely in the United States,” Sessions said. | Sessions called on Congress to authorize that section of the law, which is scheduled to expire at the end of the year, and to reject amendments some lawmakers had proposed the make the application of the law more narrow. “I want to be clear about this: section 702 does not permit the targeting of any American anywhere, or even a foreigner who is likely in the United States,” Sessions said. |
| Neema Singh Guliani, legislative counsel with the ACLU, said that Sessions’ defense of the law was misleading and inaccurate. | Neema Singh Guliani, legislative counsel with the ACLU, said that Sessions’ defense of the law was misleading and inaccurate. |
| “It’s wrong because, number one you don’t have to be a terrorist to be targeted by section 702 if you’re a foreigner, and number two, once the information is collected the government does use it to search for information about people in the US and who are Americans,” Singh Guliani said. | “It’s wrong because, number one you don’t have to be a terrorist to be targeted by section 702 if you’re a foreigner, and number two, once the information is collected the government does use it to search for information about people in the US and who are Americans,” Singh Guliani said. |
| Sessions also suggested that law enforcement needs improved access to encrypted electronic communications and devices in order to address terrorist threats, criticizing technology companies for failing to provide investigators with access. | Sessions also suggested that law enforcement needs improved access to encrypted electronic communications and devices in order to address terrorist threats, criticizing technology companies for failing to provide investigators with access. |
| “Over just the past year, the FBI was unable to open access to nearly 7,500 mobile devices submitted to its Computer Analysis and Response Team, even though there was court orders or legal authority to do so. We can only imagine what the consequences of not getting that information will be,” Sessions said. | “Over just the past year, the FBI was unable to open access to nearly 7,500 mobile devices submitted to its Computer Analysis and Response Team, even though there was court orders or legal authority to do so. We can only imagine what the consequences of not getting that information will be,” Sessions said. |
| Most cybersecurity experts agree that engineering “back-door” access to secure devices and communications for investigators would introduce a weakness that could be exploited by hackers and other malicious actors. | Most cybersecurity experts agree that engineering “back-door” access to secure devices and communications for investigators would introduce a weakness that could be exploited by hackers and other malicious actors. |
| Sessions’ speech was planned long before the Tuesday attack that killed eight and injured 12 more in downtown New York City. Yesterday authorities charged Saipov, who allegedly confessed to the killings from his hospital bed, on federal terrorism counts. | Sessions’ speech was planned long before the Tuesday attack that killed eight and injured 12 more in downtown New York City. Yesterday authorities charged Saipov, who allegedly confessed to the killings from his hospital bed, on federal terrorism counts. |
| US immigration | US immigration |
| New York | New York |
| Jeff Sessions | Jeff Sessions |
| Donald Trump | Donald Trump |
| news | news |
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