(DHS) seeking to lift ban on Libyans attending flight schools

I have been and remain a staunch supporter of the Obama administration, however, if the news below is true (i'm still researching the claims below), I am VERY concerned that they are wrong on this one. In theory, I understand their reasoning below, it just seems to be a very risky approach to solving the problem, even with the extra security measures being proposed.


"The original law effectively disqualified all Libyan nationals and those “acting on behalf of Libyan entities” from training in “aviation maintenance, flight operations, or nuclear-related fields,” according to the ban.
DHS (Department of Homeland Security) said the prohibition is irrelevant now since the United States and Libya have worked to “normalize their relationship,” according to the directive approved by the OMB (Office of Management and Budget).


“The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is amending its regulations by rescinding the regulatory provisions promulgated in 1983 that terminated the nonimmigrant status and barred the granting of certain immigration benefits to Libyan nationals and foreign nationals acting on behalf of Libyan entities who are engaging in or seeking to obtain studies or training in,” the amendment states.
“The United States Government and the Government of Libya have normalized their relationship and most of the restrictions and sanctions imposed by the United States and the United Nations toward Libya have been lifted,” it says. “Therefore, DHS, after consultation with the Department of State and the Department of Defense, is considering rescinding the restrictions that deny nonimmigrant status and benefits to a specific group of Libyan nationals.”
DHS spokesman S.Y. Lee said that the Obama administration is reviewing its policies towards Libya “to see how they might be updated to better align with U.S. interests” in light of its revolution.”
“As part of this effort, the Departments of State and Defense requested the Department of Homeland Security consider revising regulations dating from 1983 to permit Libyan nationals, and other foreign nationals acting on behalf of Libyan entities, to engage in studies or training in aviation maintenance, flight operations and/or nuclear-related fields,” Lee said.
Efforts to reverse the ban would help Libyans sustain and operate their war fleets, Lee explained.
“This would permit the educational exchange of information with Libyan nationals so they can reconstitute, operate and sustain their fleet to address threats posed by extremist groups seeking to derail the democratic transition,” Lee said. “As is the case with students from all countries, Libyan students interested in pursuing these studies would be subject to robust and thorough security threat assessments and vetting procedures, separate from this proposed regulatory change and consistent with our mission to protect national security and public safety.”
Members of the House Judiciary Committee expressed outrage on Monday about the rollback in the law, maintaining that Libyans continue to pose a security risk to the United States, particularly if they are given access to train in the aviation and nuclear fields.
The terror threat continues and numerous news reports document recent terror-related activities coming from Libya,” the Judiciary Committee said in a statement. “Recently, the employees at the U.S. embassy in Tripoli were evacuated due to violence between rival militias near the facility.”
“Since then, many foreign governments have closed their embassies in Libya and evacuated staff as the violence has spread throughout the country,” the statement said.
DHS officials had promised lawmakers in April that it would provide key documents necessary for Congress to perform its legal oversight on the proposal to overturn the ban. However, DHS never turned these documents over, according to the Judiciary Committee.
Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R., Va.), the committee’s chairman, accused DHS of stonewalling and lashed out at the administration for “turning a blind eye to real terrorist threats that exist in Libya today.”
“The House Judiciary Committee has repeatedly sought information about the Administration’s policy reversal but political appointees at the Department of Homeland Security have stonewalled the Committee’s requests and have not articulated why it is in Americans’ best interests to change policy,” Goodlatte said in a statement…."

 

I don't like it either.

 

Why the stonewalling?

So it's transparent flight and nuclear training methods for Libyans by the USA, but no transparency of Government for Americans and the HJC on the policy reversal? Russia warned our Govt twice about those nutjob terrorists in Boston, and they were ignored. How can we expect them to keep track of these Libyan nationalists? Maybe if they called them tea-partiers, then Lois Lerner of the IRS would definitely watch and strike them like a hawk.

 

I have no clue but there's a chance we're talking about Bush era appointees at DHS who're stonewalling.

 

I worked with a man who was from the Middle East(I think he was Saudi Arabian). He was a single father of one son. He was once an airline pilot(he was a captain)of Boeing 747s. He wanted to get recertified in this country, but he couldn't afford it. He ended up quitting the job and going back home to look for a wife. He worked with us up to the days after the Oklahoma City bombing. He left a couple of weeks after that horrible day.

 

LOL..did you just invoke Bush (again)?:-? Let it go luv. let it go. :smt056

 

It's proving difficult to find more details regarding this report. It seems most of what I have been able to find is from conservative sites, have not found liberal or neutral sites that are reporting much on this, so can't confirm the stonewalling or not, still researching...

 

We could always call/email, and ask directly

Agency Contact:
Katherine H. Westerlund
Acting Unit Chief, SEVP Policy, Student and Exchange Visitor Program
Department of Homeland Security
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Potomac Center North, 500 12th Street SW., STOP 5600,
Washington, DC 20536-5600
Phone:703 603-3414
Email: katherine.h.westerlund@ice.dhs.gov

http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaViewRule?pubId=201310&RIN=1653-AA69