U.S. May Reqire Visas From Brits

Immigration officials are considering making British citizens apply for visas to enter the U.S., the New York Times reports. The aim is to screen out potential terrorists among Brits of Pakistani descent who might slip through because of the longstanding waiver of visas between the two countries.  An alternate proposal would require visas only for Britons of Pakistani origin.

The British government doesn't like either option, the the Times reports. But cases like convicted fertilizer bomber Omar Khaym worry Homeland Security. Khaym had no criminal record that might have grabbed the attention of the INS—only his Islamic faith and frequent trips to Pakistan, where he fell in with radicals. (More Omar Khaym stories.)