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Special status? Saudis to skip normal customs controls

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    Saudi Arabia gets deal not available to UK, France

  • Duration 4:43
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-- -- outrage from the families of some 9/11 victims as the Department of Homeland Security gives a special travel status.

To some folks from Saudi Arabia.

The nation that produced fifteen of the nineteen hijackers.

Who carried out the September 11 attacks.

They are being offered a deal that is not even available -- some of our closest allies why.

Steve Emerson is the founder of the investigative project on terrorism and he's gotten the bottom of this so this.

Happen -- quietly in January and now some of the 9/11 fans are getting wind of it and saying.

Why on earth would we do this is essentially giving you like that the speedy pass at Disney to skip aligning go right up to the front of the ride.

And we're giving it we don't give it to Germany we don't get it to France we just -- -- Israel but it hasn't kicked in yet.

But Saudi Arabia go right ahead.

You know negatives it's it's -- only just bizarre it's it's truly disturbing.

Not all the but the bottom line is when we saw the memo -- that was leaked us.

About the from Saudi Arabia to the United States to go to the head of the line without necessarily being -- entirely by the United States.

Now part of the vetting is being done by the ministry of interior in Saudi Arabia.

I remember that Saudi Arabia some accusations have been made by former senators that they took part in the government itself took part in the 9/11 conspiracy.

And number two they have the highest recidivism level.

-- former gitmo detainees.

In the world that is those who come back to Saudi Arabia we -- to become jihadist so.

Why we are allowing the saudis.

To vet Saudi applicants and then allow them to jump to the head of the line without even going through.

Customs patrol customs and Border Patrol in United States is absolutely disturbing and bizarre and I think congress is gonna hold hearings about the.

OK but we also do -- you know I agree with you there's an issue about the Saudi -- since -- since our congressional research service.

Describes them as a problematic ally in combating Islamic extremism and since as you point out.

Former Florida senator Bob Graham who chaired the senate Intel committee of the time 9/11 was co -- -- -- joint congressional inquiry comes out says.

I'm convinced there was a direct direct line between at least some of the 9/11 terrorists and the government of Saudi Arabia so we -- -- much -- in their screening.

When they tell us how this person can be fast track this person can skip the line.

But we do our own screening here as well before we given the special.

You know access passed so should why should we feel okay about that.

Well in fact under under the enhanced -- security program that apply to Saudi Arabia after 9/11 and those countries that were considered to be.

Major proponents of of -- Islamic terrorism.

Saudi Arabia was not allowed to bet its own people when he detonated that it is the -- -- government DHS Homeland Security.

Court customs Border Patrol wide CIA we did all the -- Now suddenly we're sharing that event.

And we don't know all the details in your right -- we will still have a role in the vetting.

What happens when a Saudi applicant is passed by then vetted by -- and they say they're okay.

They get a five year visa fast tracked -- United States and suddenly.

New material develops that they really -- or their Hamas you think the saudis are gonna tell us.

Here in the United States they must satisfy a security clearance process including an interview with the customs agent.

I mean that's sounds more rigorous than when you just passed through customs when your -- in the US and going through customs now eight in coordination.

However where is the minister of interior of Saudi Arabia.

In other words.

It's a joint vetting process and the deed goes as you're you correctly point out are not exactly clear at this point yes you're right that this at the United States government still had.

Has vetting.

Appropriation.

Jurisdiction.

Over there.

Tablet -- Willoughby Harris like crack at a -- or -- -- -- -- askew by doing this what what we don't know for Germany France why we don't for the saudis.

I think it has to do with a -- I think it has to do with the fact that.

You know you remember after the -- -- of attack -- -- attempted attack the underwear bomber three years ago Saudi Arabia was put on these list of secondary countries to be inspected.

They complained bitterly -- -- WikiLeaks cable they were taken off within three weeks.

I think it's politics and I think he's very dangerous because that would I I simply don't believe we can trust their vetting.

And to the extent that they are involved that Betty -- putting our own national security in danger.

Now we've gone from saying that the saudis need enhanced screening -- saying that they can get less screening if their government and we determine -- by Steve thank you.

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