Breach of Trust: Why Obama's Visa Plan Ticked Off the GOP

House Republicans on Thursday accused the Obama administration of going against an explicit understanding between Congress and the White House on how to implement a new law that limits visa-free travel to the U.S., a charge that could eradicate any remaining trust that might still exist between the two branches on the critical issue of homeland security.

The Department of Homeland Security announced Thursday that it would start implementing new limits on access to the U.S. Visa Waiver Program, according to a law passed one month ago. The law is aimed at preventing visa-free travel for foreign nationals who recently visited Iran, Iraq, Sudan or Syria, over fears that those travelers may be looking to commit acts of terrorism.

The law gives the executive branch a national security waiver. DHS said it would use that waiver to consider exemptions to the tighter visa rules for several categories of travelers.

They include people traveling to any of the four countries for humanitarian or journalism purposes. It also said it may exempt people who traveled to Iran for "legitimate business-related purposes."

House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Michael McCaul, R-Texas, said immediately after the DHS announcement that whatever the law says, the White House is doing exactly what it said it wouldn't do.

"The administration plans to include waivers that were explicitly rejected during negotiations with the White House, State Department and Department of Homeland Security."

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