The Foreign Service Journal, October 2006

increases each time they deny a Muslim entry. There are many instances where Muslims selected by our embassies for the International Visitor Program have encountered similar rejections upon arrival in the U.S. Do we really want to give the impression that adherents to that faith are no longer welcome here? In addition, our use of raw intelli- gence data to screen visitors is a good example of “garbage in, garbage out.” We are throwing unsubstantiated reports containing thousands of names into a computerized hopper called the National Tracking Center. Once a name is in the system, we are reluctant to remove it. Our officials also seem to be making little effort to vet reports on individuals. Further, our ports of entry appar- ently have made no real provision for handling detained passengers who have committed no crime. In response, more and more Pana- manians — not just Muslims, either — are changing their plans to avoid coming to the United States. Instead, they are traveling directly to Europe or China, whether for business, tourism, exchanges or education. Yes, it’s more expensive for them, but who wants to risk going to Houston or Miami anymore? Even the real estate boom in Panama is partly due to the ease of getting there and the difficulty of getting to Miami. And the same is 16 F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L / O C T O B E R 2 0 0 6 S P E A K I N G O U T We have a right — a duty — to protect ourselves. But why turn friends into enemies in the process?