WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Susan Collins, R-Me., Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, issued this statement in response to the President’s remarks tonight regarding the investigation into the Christmas Day terrorism plot:
“The Administration’s findings from this review confirm what we have known since shortly after the attack – that our security agencies had sufficient information to prevent Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab from ever getting on a flight to America," said Senator Collins.
“While the President’s intentions are good, unfortunately, his response falls short of directing one of the needed actions we should take immediately to prevent foreign persons with known or suspected connections to terrorism from traveling to the United States.
“The Department of State should identify all individuals in the broadest terrorist database who possess U.S. visas and suspend their visas, pending further investigation. Moreover, the Department of Homeland Security should expand existing programs to confirm that all foreign citizens boarding flights to the United States have valid visas.
“If the State Department had cancelled Abdulmutallab’s visa, he would never have been permitted to board his flight in Amsterdam. These common sense reforms would help prevent the next terrorist from boarding a flight to our country.”