Today, U.S. Reps. Grace Meng (D-NY) and Brian Mast (R-FL) sent a bipartisan letter with 73 other Members of Congress to Acting Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan urging him to expand the Global Entry program to Israel.
The Global Entry program allows expedited entry to the United States for pre-approved, low-risk travelers upon their arrival in the U.S. Current participants of the program include: Australia, Canada, Mexico, South Korea, the Netherlands, Panama, Germany, Singapore, the United Kingdom, Colombia, Switzerland, Argentina, and India.
Since 2012, Israel has participated in a limited pilot program for Global Entry. Israel’s full participation in the program would not only strengthen the deep U.S.-Israel national security ties that exist but would also grow the U.S. economy and increase people-to-people exchanges.
“Israel is America’s strongest ally and friend in the Middle East and it’s time that Israel is finally permitted to fully participate in our Global Entry program,” said Meng. “By adding Israel, America continues to affirm its unbreakable support for U.S.-Israel relations and strengthens the people-to-people connections for years to come. I want to thank Rep. Mast for co-leading this letter with me and I look forward to hearing back from Acting Secretary McAleenan.”
“The United States’ relationship with Israel is critically important to both countries and global security,” said Mast. “A long list of our allies already benefit from full participation in Global Entry and there’s no doubt that Israel should be added to strengthen security at our border and theirs, as well as increase opportunity for cultural and economic exchange.”
A copy of the Meng-Mast correspondence, and the signatories, can be viewed here. The text of the letter is below.
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The Honorable Kevin McAleenan
Acting Secretary of Homeland Security
Washington, D.C. 20528
Dear Acting Secretary McAleenan:
We write to you in support of Israel’s participation in U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Global Entry program. Over a year ago, all 100 of our colleagues in the United States Senate wrote to you urging the expansion of Global Entry to Israel – an unwavering ally. We write to you today, to ensure that the benefits that Global Entry promises to U.S. tourism, to our country’s national security, and to the U.S.-Israel relationship are realized.
According to the U.S. Travel Association, visits from Israel to the United States have averaged 418,000 people per year for the past three years. Israeli travelers account for $1.2 billion in spending annually, with an average $4,000 in personal spending per trip.
CBP’s Global Entry Program allows expedited entry upon arrival to the United States for pre-approved, low-risk travelers. By removing known, low-risk travelers from the regular screening process, CBP is able to focus resources on potentially riskier unknown travelers.
Since 2012, Israel has been participating in a limited pilot program of Global Entry. Israel’s full participation in this program would grow the U.S. economy, strengthen national security at each of our borders, and increase opportunities for people-to-people exchange, which bolsters our already unique bilateral relationship.
Israel would join a group of allies who benefit from participation in Global Entry, including Australia, Canada, Mexico, South Korea, the Netherlands, Panama, Germany, Singapore, the United Kingdom, Colombia, Switzerland, Argentina, and India.
We urge you expediently open the full benefits of Global Entry to Israel, and to provide an update to Congress on the status of the current negotiations.
