At a time when anti-American sentiment is at record highs, both Democrat and Republican senators are pushing a bill to make it easier to enter the US: Anti-terrorism bill to relax foreigners entry into US.

WASHINGTON - The Senate’s anti-terrorism bill would relax visa requirements for foreign travelers coming to the United States, a move that some worry will leave the country more vulnerable to a terrorist attack.

“Nineteen murderers got into the U.S. because of lax scrutiny of their visas,” Rosemary Jenks of the nonpartisan Numbers USA said, referring to the terrorists responsible for the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. “Now the Senate wants to eliminate visas for millions more people.”

At least two terrorists involved in the Sept. 11 attacks entered the country under the State Department’s Visa Waiver Program or arrived from a country included in it.

Republicans and Democrats in Congress, as well as President Bush, have broadly embraced the effort that would add 13 more countries to the WVP. It’s part of a larger bill to enact recommendations of the 9/11 Commission.

“There are many countries helping us thwart terrorism around the world, and they should be rewarded for their continued cooperation,” said Sen. George Voinovich, R-Ohio. “This legislation will improve both our national security and economic interests while helping to solidify these relationships and improve good will toward the United States for years to come.”

Aaarrrggghhh.

UPDATE at 3/9/07 9:23:12 am:

This UPI article makes the story a little easier to swallow; the Examiner implied that Middle Eastern countries would be among the ones considered for visa waivers, but UPI has more details and it’s not as bad as it appeared: Analysis: Senate visa waiver expansion. (Hat tip: Occasional Reader.)

Of 19 nations designated by the State Department as having a “roadmap” to participation in the Visa Waiver Program, only nine — Argentina, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Malta, Greece, Israel, South Korea and Taiwan — already have rejection rates less than 10 percent, and would “be eligible to participate in the program provided they pass the security requirements this bill imposes,” according to Feinstein.

Another three — Brazil, Hungary and Uruguay — are within 2 or 3 percent of the 10 percent qualification threshold.