Page 17 - Pilot Programs News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

Homeland security people, state department witnesses what are they saying in their defense? reporter: this morning's hearing includes director of immigration and citizenship services. confirming that two of the three pilot programs on social media begun last year and now concluded and director rodriguez said social media has been used in limited case. >> any thought that the department of homeland security had simply foregone the use of social media for purposes of immigration screening is mistaken thought. we have not spoken bit in great detail, the fact more we speak about it, more that use ...

They could go above and beyond and there's three pilot programs started in the last year to experiment with it. if you're asking does this customs official did. >> i have a checked box. >> no, i don't have a check list for social media. >> i was excited about the story. if that memo that you obtained, if that had become policy and practice, would there have been a you must check this box? >> what it would have done, according to how it was written and our officials, some anonymous who have spoken to us say, it would have at least opened the door to trying to do that on a regular basis with lim...

War. meaning there is a popular consensus for that. but i do want him to say something with more specificity rather than the same old same old. >> i want to listen to a little testimony on capitol hill, about isis attempting to enter the u.s. through refugee programs, last year nearly 120 syrian nationals overstayed and some are now subject to federal inquiries. take a listen. >> we got millions of people that are out there that want to come into this country. and we're doing a very small bit. if we don't even look at their public stuff. that's what kills me. dhs doesn't even regularly require...

They'll also protect u.s. residents and americans who are vetted. the question is do you want to set up something more complicated that's more invasive for people abroad than in the u.s. a lot of them say it sounds like common sense. this goes to how to government works and doesn't work. a lot of times we hear about ideology and politics. our reporting doesn't reflect there's an idea logical wall doing this but a bureaucratic wall. they were upset and saying we've been pushing this for years. i also got a response from dhs and they pointed out they've been experiencing and have pilot programs ...

It's not routine, it's not widespread. >> it's not comforting. >> but it is also incomprehensible. the idea we're starting up a couple of pilot programs on what the american people understand, and is so obvious to do. you simply give a directive that where you think it's appropriate, you allow any immigration officer to investigate. the postings on you know, public media. the argument against it, which apparently prevailed a few years ago, within dhs is ridiculous. number one, it is that we don't want to invade their privacy. well, it's absurd to say that looking at a public posting, as an inv...