US Homeland Security Sec. defends move to impose $10 travel fee for visitors to US

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BRUSSELS, Belgium — U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano has defended U.S. government moves to impose a $10 (C6.73) fee for tourists entering the United States.

European Parliament lawmakers are deriding the new fee as a new visa restriction and warn they could call for EU countries to impose similar fees on visiting Americans.

They urged her and the U.S. Congress not to carry through with the measure.

Napolitano, speaking to lawmakers on Friday, says the fee is justified and will help promote tourism at home. Lawmakers also grilled Napolitano over anti-terror measures, notably on what is done with data collected on air passengers.