Obama Orders Review of K-1 Fiancé(e) Visa Program Following California Attack
President Barack Obama has ordered a review of the K-1 fiancé(e) visa program in response to terrorism concerns following the mass shooting in San Bernardino, California, that killed 14 people and injured many others on December 2, 2015. A husband-and-wife team launched the attack following the wife’s admission to the United States several years ago as a K-1 fiancée. President Obama said he ordered the Departments of State and Homeland Security to review the program.
Recent reports have noted, among other things, that security checks on the wife, Tashfeen Malik, for admission to the United States on a K-1 visa failed to uncover her support on social media of violent jihad and her statements that she wanted to participate in it. Social media is not routinely reviewed as part of Homeland Security checks. How such reviews of social media postings could occur, and whether they are appropriate, is reportedly a topic of debate within the U.S. government.
Approximately 35,925 people entered the United States in fiscal year 2014 on fiancé(e) visas. See also PDF of statistics on FY 2014 nonimmigrant visas issued by country and type of visa.
