Those just cover the gov’ts ass.
Of course no one will answer yes, but if the govt finds out later you did commit a terrorist act, they have the power to boot you out.
Of course no one will answer yes, but if the govt finds out later you did commit a terrorist act, they have the power to boot you out.
In terms of booting them out, the question makes it much easier. If they are a member of a terrorist group and they said “no”, well it’s an open and shut case of lying on an immigration application. If they didn’t ask the question, sure they could still boot them out, but it may be a prolonged process.
Because they have to prove it in court. And the defendant can ask for a lawyers. And then both the cost, and the level of proof required is a lot higher. Will the US have enough time and resources to go to the originating country and inspect all the evidence, check the archives and so on? Probably not for every case.
The alternative they just need to prove they lied on a form and they signed and acknowledged that lying on it means getting kicked out. That's a simple and shut case most of the time.
It seems pointless.
(Not a lawyer nor an immigration expert on US law, though.)
Wouldn't the terrorist act do the trick?
And don't we mostly imprison people forever when they do those?