(José Niño, Headline USA) More than two decades after the September 11 attacks, weaknesses in America’s temporary visa system continue to raise national security concerns. A Breitbart report connected those modern enforcement problems to immigration violations committed by members of the terrorist cell that murdered 2,977 victims in 2001.
All 19 hijackers entered the United States through ports of entry after receiving temporary visas.
The commission reported that 18 hijackers presented visitor visas, while Hani Hanjour entered on a student visa. 16 had tourist visas, two held business visas, and Hanjour held the student visa.
Breitbart, relying on a FAIR summary, identified seven men who either exceeded an authorized stay at some point or violated the terms governing their presence.
- Hani Hasan Hanjour of Saudi Arabia
- Nawaf al Hazmi of Saudi Arabia
- Mohamed Atta of Egypt
- Satam al Suqami of Saudi Arabia
- Waleed al Shehri of Saudi Arabia
- Marwan al Shehhi of the United Arab Emirates
- Ahmed al Ghamdi of Saudi Arabia
Breitbart argued that the case remains relevant because temporary visitors continue to remain in the country after their authorized stays expire. The latest DHS report counted 538,548 overstay events among 46,657,108 expected air and sea departures during fiscal year 2024. Of those events, 482,954 involved people initially classified as suspected to remain inside the country.
The report later reduced the suspected domestic total to 427,204 after accounting for subsequent departures and changes to lawful permanent resident status through February 6, 2025. DHS placed the overall overstay rate at 1.15 percent and reported that 98.85 percent of covered travelers departed on time or otherwise complied with their admission terms.
Breitbart also noted that thousands of nationals from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and Lebanon appeared in the fiscal year data.
On September 11, 2001, terrorists flew American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175 into the World Trade Center towers in New York. They struck the Pentagon with American Airlines Flight 77.
Passengers and crew members aboard United Airlines Flight 93 fought back after learning about the other attacks. The aircraft crashed near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, before reaching Washington. Evidence indicates that the United States Capitol was the most likely target, though official sources have also identified the White House as a possible objective.
José Niño is the deputy editor of Headline USA. Follow him at x.com/JoseAlNino
