Operations and Program Management
Since deploying US-VISIT entry capabilities at 115 airports and 14 seaports on January 5, 2004, DHS has processed millions of people and prevented hundreds of persons with prior or suspected criminal or immigration violations from entering the country, all while not adversely impacting wait times for legitimate visitors at airports and seaports.
US-VISIT has already demonstrated solid accomplishments against its four stated goals: enhancing the security of our citizens and visitors; facilitating legitimate travel and trade; enhancing the integrity of our immigration system; and safeguarding the privacy of our visitors. One major accomplishment is the collaboration among multiple government agencies, notably the Department of Homeland Security and the Departments of State, Commerce, Justice, and Transportation.
Since the implementation of more comprehesive check/in check/out systems at airports and seaports under US-VISIT in January, there have been no significant delays. The US VISIT process adds only about 15 seconds. Most of the arrival processes remain unchanged and are familiar to international visitors. Only two additional procedures have been added to the current inspection process - capturing two digital fingerscans and taking a digital photograph. The process is fast, easy, and clean. DHS is piloting exit alternatives for biometric data capture as of March 2005. Since the exit pilot testing initially began at Baltimore-Washington International Airport and Miami International Cruise Line Terminal in January 2004, DHS has not seen the exit process add more than one minute or unduly delay any visitor from being able to board his or her departure vehicle. DHS continues to pilot exit alternatives in 2005 at airports and seaports.
Congress appropriated $340 million in FY 04 for US-VISIT. A spending plan was submitted to the GAO and was approved by both the Senate and House Appropriations Committees.
DHS is working closely with the air and sea travel industry regarding the requirements of US-VISIT. It has held many meetings with the industry's representatives and have provided them with written information about the program. The US VISIT Outreach Directorate also participates in the industries' largest trade shows and engages travel and trade audiences from around the world.
US VISIT awarded a five-year, multi-billion dollar contract to Accenture LLP to provide a wide range of professional and technical services to support the modernization of our border management processes and information technology systems. The procurement process for this acquisition took six months. A Request for Proposals (RFP) was issued in November 2003 to engage the private sector to help US-VISIT identify the optimum solution for exit and entry systems at land borders. Proposals were received in January 2004, and the contract was awarded on time on May 28, 2004.
US-VISIT has a robust outreach effort in place to educate visitors and explain US-VISIT procedures. Materials include brochures and airport signage in multiple languages, in-flight videos and on-board handouts the airlines are using to inform their passengers. Public Service Announcements are being aired in airport lounges, and US-VISIT is conducting active outreach to global media and stakeholder groups. US-VISIT has more than 300 stakeholder groups linking to our Web site and distributing information to their constituents, and the program has been extensively covered by domestic and foreign media. Judging by the awareness and comfort level passengers have at the inspection booths, US-VISIT feels these efforts are effective at communicating the program and educating US visitors.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
