Introduction to the Issue
Some of the people suspected of being members of a theft ring charged with slipping into the homes of famous athletes to rob them entered the United States legally. But their arrests have underscored problems with a post-9/11 program that is supposed to vet certain travelers to keep out criminals and terrorists.
Authorities in Florida have charged seven Chileans in connection with a string of million-dollar burglaries of homes of professional athletes across the country. Jewelry, cash, designer luggage, and other items were stolen.
The Visa Waiver Program
NBC News confirmed that some of those charged in the thefts traveled to the country under the U.S. visa waiver partnership with Chile and stayed longer than the three months they were allowed. That means they were not required to have visas to travel to the United States and could stay for up to three months.
However, they would have been required to undergo a prescreening before traveling here, under what is known as the Electronic System Travel Authorization (ESTA) program, created in 2008. The ESTA approval aims to ensure that a foreign visitor is not a homeland security threat or not trying to exploit their travel.
Trusted partner countries are supposed to help in this process by sharing background information on their citizens, including criminal records.
Weakness in the ESTA Prescreening Tool
The complaint filed against the seven Chileans, and another one filed in Ohio that names three of the seven, underscores what some prosecutors and others have pointed out is a weakness in the ESTA prescreening tool put in place after terrorists struck on U.S. land more than two decades ago.
The vulnerability has come to light following a number of break-ins and thefts in Southern California and other parts of the country. Various elected officials have urged Congress, the Department of Homeland Security, and the FBI to resolve the issue.
Calls for Action
Orange County, California, District Attorney Todd Spitzer arguably has been the most vocal about what he calls the “loophole” in the Visa Waiver Program.
“Why in the world do we need professional athletes’ homes to get broken into before this is at the top of the news again?” Spitzer said on Feb. 21 on “The John Kobylt Show” after charges against the seven Chileans were made public.
Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis Jr.’s home was burglarized on Nov. 2. A Florida criminal complaint charged seven Chileans in connection with that and other burglaries at professional athletes’ homes. Officials say the above photo depicts Pablo Zuniga Cartes, Ignacio Zuniga Cartes, Bastian Jimenez Freraut, and a fourth person in a selfie. (Justice Department)
The Case of Chile
After the 2001 terrorist attacks, the United States sought to tighten up the Visa Waiver Program by screening visa waiver travelers for security risks. The United States also required visa waiver partner countries to provide background information, including criminal records, on their citizens before traveling to the United States or traveling through it to get elsewhere.
The ESTA prescreening program requires citizens of visa waiver countries to fill out an application of about 15 “yes” or “no” questions online and pay $21 in fees. If approved, they are allowed to travel to the United States for visits of 90 days at a time over two years, or until they have to renew their passport, whichever comes first. The system is automated. Once at ports of entry, admissibility is finally determined by Customs and Border Protection agents.
Conclusion
The thefts at athletes’ homes have highlighted a significant weakness in the anti-terrorist program, specifically in the Visa Waiver Program and the ESTA prescreening tool. The case of Chile, which is the only South American country in the Visa Waiver Program, has brought attention to the need for stricter screening and background checks for travelers. The U.S. government must take immediate action to address this issue and prevent similar crimes from happening in the future.
FAQs
Q: What is the Visa Waiver Program?
A: The Visa Waiver Program is a security agreement between the United States and certain countries that allows citizens of those countries to travel to the United States without a visa for up to 90 days.
Q: What is the ESTA prescreening program?
A: The ESTA prescreening program is an automated system that requires citizens of visa waiver countries to fill out an application and pay a fee before traveling to the United States.
Q: Why are some officials calling for Chile to be removed from the Visa Waiver Program?
A: Some officials, including Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer, are calling for Chile to be removed from the Visa Waiver Program due to the high number of crimes committed by Chilean citizens in the United States.
Q: What is being done to address the issue?
A: The U.S. government is working to reinforce screening of Chilean travelers and has secured an agreement with Chile to enhance screening of travelers. Additionally, some officials are calling for stricter background checks and screening for all travelers.
