Loophole That Allowed 9/11 Terrorists into Country Still Exists

(ConservativeSense.com) – Seven of the 9/11 attackers should have been deported from the United States for overstaying their visas, and no reinforcements are in place to ensure the same cannot happen again. All of the nineteen terrorists who killed thousands of Americans on September 11 were in the country legally, having arrived on tourism, business, and student visas. However, seven of the killers had overstayed their visas by the time of the attacks, and despite being subject to deportation, none were removed.

Nawaf al-Hamzi, for example, should have been deported nine times, but no action was taken. He overstayed his visa and was on a terror watch list, yet he remained in the US. Mohamed Atta also overstayed and obtained a Florida driving license despite being in America illegally. Atta was placed on a terrorist watch list and detained in the United Arab Emirates just months before the attacks.

Hani Hasan Hanjour came to the US on a student visa but did not enroll in any schools. Satam al-Suqami, Waleed al-Shehri, Marwan al-Shehhi, and Salem al-Hamzi were all overstayers who should not have been permitted to remain in the US, but no steps were taken to remove them. They all participated in the atrocities of 9/11.

The Commission Report in the wake of the attacks addressed the issue of illegal immigration and recommended “a comprehensive screening system” and “a biometric entry-exit system,” but neither were put in place.

In 2023, a report revealed that a record number of people overstayed their visas and remained in America illegally. The Department of Homeland Security released data in June showing that almost 854,000 foreign nationals overstayed their visas between October 2021 and September 2022. Of these, 795,000 remain in the country, while only 59,000 have left.

Pew Research has found that around half of the 22 million illegal aliens in the United States arrived on lawful visa programs but did not leave when these programs expired. The overwhelming majority of overstayers are not deported.