Ed Royce: “last week, the Subcommittee on International Terrorism that I chair held a hearing on Venezuela's link to terrorism. On…”

“last week, the Subcommittee on International Terrorism that I chair held a hearing on Venezuela's link to terrorism. On May 15, the State Department designated Venezuela as not cooperating fully with U.S. anti-terrorism efforts. Mr. Speaker, from what we heard from the Department officials, it is not that Venezuela is not cooperating fully; it is that Venezuela is not cooperating at all. Disconcerting was the testimony we heard from the State Department that Venezuelan passports can be forged with child-like ease, and that the U.S. is detaining at our borders an increasing number of third- country aliens carrying false Venezuelan documents. According to a 2003 U.S. News report, thousands of Venezuelan identity documents are being distributed to foreigners from Middle Eastern nations, including Syria, Pakistan, Egypt and Lebanon. We know that travel documents are as important as weapons for terrorists. Mr. Speaker, post-9/11, it is reckless not to view our immigration policy as national security policy. ____________________”