Coats calls for review of travel agreement with Europe

Sen. Dan Coats (R-Ind.) said because of the threat from the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), the United States should reconsider its visa travel agreements with other countries.

“A full reassessment of cooperative travel agreements, entry procedures and our border security remains necessary to ensure protection of our homeland,” Coats said Monday. “I will continue to push my legislation that would examine the Visa Waiver Program and also provide additional tools to address Americans who have joined ISIS and other terror groups.”

{mosads}Coats released his statement after the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced it will require additional information from European travelers before they fly to the United States.

Coats applauded the DHS decision, saying it was a “good first step” in addressing the risk of terrorist attacks, but he said more could be done.

He has introduced the Counterterrorism Border Security Enhancement Act, S. 2869, which would allow the secretary of State to revoke U.S. passports of citizen suspected of terrorism. The bill would also require stricter information-sharing agreements by countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program.

Some members of ISIS are American or European citizens, and lawmakers have expressed concerns that those members could return to launch terrorist attacks at home.