During a daily press briefing this week, Richard Boucher, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) spokesman, answered questions about the visa waiver policy status for nationals of  the Czech Republic. 

Boucher conveyed that during the meeting with the Czech Republic Foreign Minister, the DOS expressed strong support and appreciation for the Czech policy in the global war on terrorism.  He added that the Visa Waiver Program has a series of legislative standards that a nation must meet in order to qualify for participation.  In addition, when the United States makes overall decisions for better efficiency of the visa waiver program, and these decisions can be applied to the Czech Republic, the DOS will be glad to do so.

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According to his recent press release, Congressman Chris Van Hollen introduced a private bill that will bring an end to the immigration ordeal of Malik Jarno.  If passed, this bill will grant Jarno permanent residency in the United States.  As discussed in previous bulletins, Malik Jarno has spent almost a quarter of his life behind bars due to immigration issues after he was sent to the United States as a mentally disabled, teenage orphan.  He is the son of a former political dissident and has no family members to care for him in Guinea.  Thus, Jarno will face life-threatening circumstances if he is returned to his native country.