Senate GOP presses Napolitano on delayed visa security measures

Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano is under fire from Senate Republicans over delays to a program that would tighten the security of U.S. visas.

Visa security has taken on new political significance since the attempted bombing of a jetliner arriving in Detroit on Christmas Day. The bombing suspect, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, held a multiple-entry visa despite being placed on a terrorism watch-list.

{mosads}Seven Republican members of the Senate Judiciary Committee sent a letter to Napolitano on Wednesday asking for her to explain delays in the Visa Security Program, for which Congress has already appropriated money.

The program would send special agents to consular posts in areas with suspect terrorists, such as Yemen, Frankfurt, Germany, and Amman, Jordan, to review visa applications.

“We write to express concern that visa security units that are scheduled to be deployed in five countries have been waiting for your approval, even though funding for these deployments has been provided by Congress,” the lawmakers wrote.

The lawmakers argue the program should be implemented immediately to identify “potential terrorist and criminal threats before they reach the United States.”

“We ask that you provide us with an explanation as to why these five applications are pending,” the lawmakers wrote.

A spokesman for the Department of Homeland Security said the lawmakers would receive an answer soon.

“We’ll respond directly to the senators,” said Sara Kuban, a spokeswoman for the department.

Napolitano has found herself in the political hot seat since the Christmas Day attack. Napolitano came under heavy criticism for stating that “the system worked” after the attack failed because the bomb failed to detonate properly.

Napolitano quickly backtracked and said her comment was taken out of context. She later said, “Our system did not work in that instance; no one is happy or satisfied with that.”

Republicans have tried to make the Obama administration’s handling of counter-terrorism a political issue since the attack.

Senate Republicans want an answer from Napolitano in time for a Judiciary hearing scheduled next week on the effectiveness of anti-terrorism procedures.

Napolitano is not scheduled to testify, but FBI Director Robert Mueller is on the witness list.

“When it comes to the issue of homeland security, we have seen just how important the issue of visa security is,” said a GOP aide. 

In addition, eleven House Republicans led by Rep. Todd Tiahrt (R-Kansas) Thursday sent a letter to Obama calling on him to dismiss Napolitano for what they argued was a lack of attention to the threat of terrorism before and after the attempted Christmas Day bombing on Flight 253.
 
“If President Obama wants to get serious about strengthening our homeland security and protecting American citizens then Secretary Napolitano must go,” said Tiahrt, who is running for Senate. “Leadership matters, especially for our national security. Strong leadership is needed to constrain our adversaries. A timid, lackluster approach, as demonstrated by Secretary Napolitano, makes us increasingly vulnerable.”
 
The other signers included: Reps. Paul Broun (Ga.), Michael Burgess (Texas), Dan Burton (Ind.), Mike Coffman (Colo.), Phil Gingrey (Ga.), Doug Lamborn (Colo.), Kenny Marchant (Texas), Mike Rogers (Mich.), John Shadegg (Ariz.) and Trent Franks (Ariz.)

Susan Crabtree contributed to this article.