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Serial No. 108-34: Integrity and Security at the Border, The US-Visit Program, Hearing before the Subcommittee on Infrastructure and Border Security of the Select Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, One Hundres Eighth Congress, Second Session, January 28, 2004
The purpose of these hearings is to examine the US-Visit program. Subcommittee Vice-Chairwoman Kay Granger made the following remarks in her opening statement, "Today's business is to receive testimony regarding the new border management system to record the arrival and departure of foreign nationals into the U.S.--the United States Visitor and Immigrants Status Indicator Technology program, which we call US-VISIT. This hearing will have two panels. The subcommittee will hear first from Border and Transportation Security Undersecretary Asa Hutchinson from the Department of Homeland Security, and Consular Affairs Assistant Secretary Maura Harty from the Department of State. We will then hear from a second panel comprised of James May, the president and CEO of the Air Transport Association; Kathleen Campbell Walker, a member of the board of directors of the El Paso Foreign Trade Association and a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association; and Dennis Carlton, the director of Washington operations for the International Biometric Group." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Kay Granger, Loretta Sanchez, Christopher Cox, Jim Turner, Lincoln Diaz-Balart, Norman D. Dicks, Jennifer Dunn, Sheila Jackson-Lee, Bill Pascrell, Jr., John B. Shadegg, John E. Sweeney, Asa Hutchinson, Maura Harty, James May, Kathleen Campbell Walker, Dennis Carlton, Edward K. Pultorak, and J. Clark Robinson.
United States. Government Printing Office
2005
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Serial No. 108-253: Visa Revocations II: Still Porous, Slow to Fix, Hearing before the Subcommittee on National Security, Emerging Threats and International Relalations of the Committee on Government Reform, House of Representatives, One Hundred Eighth Congress, Second Session, July 13, 2004
The purpose of these hearings is to examine visa revocations. Subcommittee Chairman Christopher Shays made the following remarks in his opening statement, "Entry by a non-citizen into the United States is a privilege, not a right. For a variety of reasons, a request for a visa may be denied. If those reasons arise only after a visa is issued, it can be revoked. The discretionary process of visa revocation is an important tool used by the Departments of State and Homeland Security, DHS, to protect our borders. But when a visa is revoked after the alien has arrived here, what happens? Thirteen months ago, at a hearing on visa revocation as a counter-terrorism tool, the General Accounting office, GAO, described a process riddled with flawed communications within and between agencies. Poor coordination and haphazard followup meant suspected terrorists who entered the United States were not being tracked or removed. Parallel inconsistent data systems treated visa revocation actions differently, creating confusion about the number, as well as the status of aliens no longer welcome here." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Jess T. Ford, Tony Edson, Donna A. Bucella, Robert M. Jacksta, Robert Schoch, Dennis J. Kucinich, and Christopher Shays.
United States. Government Printing Office
2005
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Serial No. 108-41: Department of Homeland Security's Border and Transportation Security (BTS) Budget Proposal for Fiscal Year 2005, Hearing before the Subcommittee on Infrastructure and Border Security of the Select Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, One Hundred Eighth Congress, Second Session, March 17, 2004
The purpose of this hearing is to examine the Department of Homeland Security's Border and Transportation Security (BTS) budget proposal for fiscal year 2005. Committee Chairman Dave Camp made the following remarks in his opening statement, "Today's business is to receive testimony regarding the fiscal year 2005 budget request for the Border and Transportation Security Directorate, BTS, mission and its various programs. [...] We look forward to the opportunity to ask you some specific questions regarding the BTS budget and how various programs and funding will impact the strategic objectives of the Department." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Dave Camp, Loretta Sanchez, Christopher Cox, Jim Turner, Donna M. Christensen, Sheila Jackson-Lee, Edward J. Markey, John Shadegg, Lamar S. Smith, Asa Hutchinson, Lincoln Diaz-Balart, and Mark Souder.
United States. Government Printing Office
2005
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S. Hrg. 109-117; Serial No. J-109-23: The Need for Comprehensive Immigration Reform: Serving Our National Economy: Hearing before the Subcommittee on Immigration, Border and Security and Citizenship of the Committee on the Judiciary, United States Senate, One Hundred Ninth Congress, May 26, 2005
From the opening statement of John Cornyn: "Today, we continue our review of the immigration system. Our immigration and border security system is, I think the evidence is clear, badly broken. In a post-9/11 world, we simply do not have the luxury of accepting the status quo any longer. National security demands a comprehensive solution to our immigration system, and that means both stronger enforcement and reasonable reform of our immigration laws. We must solve this problem, and we must solve it now. First, we must recognize that in the past we simply have not devoted the funds, resources, and manpower to enforce our immigration laws and protect our borders. That must change, and that will change. As history amply demonstrates, reform without enforcement is doomed to failure. No discussion of comprehensive immigration reform is possible without a clear commitment to and a substantial and dramatic escalation of our efforts to enforce the law." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: John Cornyn, Edward M. Kennedy, Patrick J. Leahy, Thomas J. Donahue, Daniel Griswold, Steven J. Law, Douglas S. Massey, and Albert Zapanta.
United States. Government Printing Office
2005
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Serial No. 108-30: Plugging the Gaps in Border Security, Hearing before the Subcommittee on Infrastructure and Border Security of the Select Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, One Hundred Eighth Congress, First Session, October 16, 2003
The purpose of this hearing is to examine gaps in border security. Subcommittee Chairman Dave Camp made the following remarks in his opening statement, "Today's business is to receive testimony regarding the new border security initiative announced by Secretary Ridge on September 2, creating One Face at the Border; and the subcommittee will first hear from Commissioner Robert Bonner in his first public hearing on this new proposal. We will then hear from a second panel comprised of the National Treasury Employees, represented by Tom Keefe; the American Federation of Government Employees, represented by Tom Kuhn; and the California Farm Bureau Federation, represented by Bill Pauli." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Dave Camp, Loretta Sanchez, Christopher Cox, Jim Turner, Norman D. Dicks, Jennifer Dunn, Bob Goodlatte, Kay Granger, Sheila Jackson-Lee, Edward J. Markey, Robert Bonner, Tom Keefe, Tom Kuhn, Bill Pauli, and Donna M. Garren.
United States. Government Printing Office
2005
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Serial No. 108-240: Creating Secure Borders and Open Doors: A Review of DHS-State Collaboration on U.S. Visa Policy, Hearing before the Committee on Government Reform, House of Representatives, One Hundred Eighth Congress, Second Session, September 9, 2004
The purpose of this hearing is to examine collaboration between the State Department and the Department of Homeland Security regarding U.S. visa policy. Committee Chairman Tom Davis made the following remarks in his opening statement, "Lest we think this is a trivial matter, next to issues concerning Social Security, visa delays tend to be the most requested issue when it comes to casework within our districts. We have heard in prior hearings about the serious impact visa delays have on U.S. businesses, on tourism, institutions of higher learning, the science community, and many others. Today, however, the committee will examine the collaboration between the Department of Homeland Security and the State Department in the establishment and implementation of U.S. visa policy, and how this collaboration is mitigating the delays to facilitate business and tourism while at the same time ensuring security." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Clark Kent Ervin, Janice Jacobs, C. Stewart Verdery, Jr., Jacquelyn L. Williams-Bridgers, Elijah E. Cummings, Tom Davis, and Henry A. Waxman.
United States. Government Printing Office
2005
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Serial No. 108-20: Best Business Practices for Securing America's Borders, Hearing of the Subcommittee on Infrastructure and Border Security before the Select Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, One Hundred Eighth Congress, First Session, July 23, 2003
The purpose of this hearing is to examine best business practices for securing America's borders. Subcommittee Chairman Dave Camp made the following remarks in his opening statement, "Today's hearing will examine the progress being made by the Department of Homeland Security in securing our land and maritime borders, with special focus on efforts to utilize the technology and skill from the private sector. The witnesses will evaluate programs and policies such as the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism, CTPAT; the Container Security Initiative, CSI; and Fast and Secure Trade, FAST, as well as provide an overview of available technology." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Dave Camp, Kay Granger, Christopher Cox, Benjamin J. Cardin, Jennifer Dunn, Sheila Jackson-Lee, Edward J. Markey, Loretta Sanchez, W. Scott Gould, Katz, Houssam Salloum, and Richard Stephens.
United States. Government Printing Office
2005
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Serial No. 108-47: Maritime Security Operations Within the Department of Homeland Security: Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Infrastructure and Border Security of the Select Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, One Hundred Eighth Congress, Second Session, May 5, 2004
From the opening statement of Kay Granger: "The purpose of today's hearing is to examine maritime security operations within the Department of Homeland Security, with a focus on how DHS agencies-including the U.S. Coast Guard, Bureau of Customs and Border Protection, Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Transportation Security Administration- are working together to avoid duplicative efforts and create greater efficiencies in providing maritime and port security." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Dave Camp, Loretta Sanchez, Kay Granger, Christopher Cox, Jim Turner, Peter A. DeFazio, Norman D. Dicks, Sheila Jackson-Lee, Edward J. Markey, Louise McIntosh Slaughter, Mark E. Souder, Jayson P. Ahern, David S. Belz, Tom Blank, and Charles E. Stallworth II.
United States. Government Printing Office
2005
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S. Hrg. 109-71; Serial No. J-109-6: Strengthening Enforcement and Border Security: The 9/11 Commission Staff Report on Terrorism Travel: Joint Hearing before the Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security and Citizenship and Subcommittee on Terrorism, technology and Homeland Security of the Committee on the Judiciary, United States Senate, One Hundred Ninth Congress, March 14, 2005
From the opening statement of John Cornyn: "Today's hearing will examine the challenges to enforcement we face at the border. It will examine the analysis and recommendations from the border security staff report of the 9/11 Commission, entitled ''9/11 and Terrorist Travel.'' The 9/11 Commission and their staff performed a tremendous public service by providing a comprehensive review of the facts and circumstances surrounding the attacks of September the 11th. I hope that those of us in Congress will never tire of reviewing the lessons learned from the failures that led to that terrible day. As that report makes clear, defects in our ability to enforce our laws and to secure the border pose a threat not only to the rule of law, but to the security of our Nation as well. Specifically, the border security staff identified several deficiencies in the training of border personnel and several defects with regard to our visa policy. The report noted that our immigration inspectors, now called CBP officers, received little counterterrorism and behavioral science training, no cultural training, and rarely received follow-up training. They also wrote that ''critical continuing education on document fraud was rare.'' The report also recognized that our visa process allowed terrorists to exploit our system and gained extended stays within our country. Recognizing this defect, terrorists concentrated on ways to exploit legal entry into our country, whether by lying on entry forms or using manipulated or fraudulent documents. All but two of the non-pilots involved in the 9/11 attacks were admitted as tourists and were granted automatic six-month stays. This allowed them to maintain a legal immigration status through the end of the 9/11 attacks. We should examine the process by which length of stay is determined to ensure that inspectors grant an appropriate time period to those seeking to enter our country." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: John Cornyn, Dianne Feinstein, Edward M. Kennedy, Jon Kyl, Patrick J. Leahy, Elaine Dezenski, Janice L. Kephart, Doris Meissner, Thomas J. Walters, and Susan Benesch.
United States. Government Printing Office
2005
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Serial No. 109-4: Immigration Enforcement Resources Authorized in the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004: Hearing before the Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security, and Claims of the Committee on the Judiciary, House of Representatives, One Hundred Ninth Congress, First Session, March 3, 2005
From the opening statement of Chairman John N. Hostettler: "In our hearing today, the Subcommittee will examine the [Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004]'s call for doubling the border patrol over 5 years." Testimony for this hearing discusses the increased need for additional border patrol and the funding issues that result. Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: John N. Hostettler, Sheila Jackson Lee, Solomon P. Ortiz, Peter Gadiel, T.J. Bonner, Robert Eggle, Zoe Lofgren, Steve King, Linda T. Sanchez.
United States. Government Printing Office
2005
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Growing Prospects for Maritime Security Cooperation in Southeast Asia
"The sea dominates Southeast Asia, covering roughly 80 percent of its area. The region's islands and peninsulas, wedged between the Pacific and Indian oceans, border major arteries of communication and commerce. Thus the economic and political affairs of Southeast Asia have been dominated by the sea. In the premodern period, ports such as Svirijaya and Malacca established empires based upon sea power in area waters. In succeeding centuries European warships and their heavy guns were the keys to colonization. Today more than half of the world's annual merchant tonnage traverses Southeast Asian waters; its oceans and seas yield vast revenues in such industries as fishing, hydrocarbon extraction, and tourism. In fact, more than 60 percent of Southeast Asians today live in or rely economically on the maritime zones. However, the sea is also the source of a variety of dangers that not only menace the prosperity of local populations but directly threaten the security of states. Those dangers include territorial disputes, nonstate political violence, transnational crime, and environmental degradation. Maritime security, accordingly, is at the forefront of Southeast Asian political concerns. Successful response to maritime security threats requires international cooperation, because those threats are primarily transnational. As Singapore's deputy prime minister has eloquently explained, 'individual state action is not enough. The oceans are indivisible and maritime security threats do not respect boundaries.'"
Naval War College (U.S.)
Bradford, John F.
2005
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United States Customs and Border Protection Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism C-TPAT: Importer Security Criteria
This document outlines the importer security criteria that have been in place as of May 25, 2005. On that date, United States Customs and Border Protection started requiring that all maritime cargo containers entering the U.S. from foreign points of origin must be secured with a high-security barrier seal which conforms to strength values as specified in the ISO-17712 Standard. These criteria are discussed in great detail in this document.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
2005
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Threat Convergence Along the Border: Will Drug Trafficking Techniques Provide Some Answers? Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Criminal Justice, Drug Policy, and Human Resources of the Committee on Government Reform, House of Representatives, One Hundred Ninth Congress, First Session, June 14, 2005
From the opening statement of Christopher Shays: "Today we will explore Federal law enforcement's ability to identify, interdict, and apprehend drug smuggling operations along our Nation's borders. This mission requires a comprehensive, unified, multiagency effort, with a clear plan that dismantles the organizations responsible, not just for smuggling drugs but also illegal aliens, terrorists, and weapons into this country. We have fallen short of this objective for many reasons but I would like to address five of them here. Reason No. 1 involves the organizational decision to split the investigative and inspection functions at the Customs and Border Protection [CBP], and Immigrations Customs Enforcement [ICE]. By splitting the two functions, the Department has limited their capacity to conduct enforcement operations in areas leading up to the border, at the border, and beyond the border. This unhealthy split has been exasperated by an extra layer of bureaucracy over ICE and CBP, namely the Directorate of Border and Transportation Security." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Gregory Passic, Anthony Placido, John P. Torres, Ralph Utley, Elijah Cummings, and Mark E. Souder,
United States. Government Printing Office
2005
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Panama: Operational Lessons from a Successful Regime Change
"It is relevant to study Operation Just Cause, the liberation of Panama, because the goal of that operation was essentially identical to that of the current operation in Iraq, namely, to depose a dictator and help the country become free, prosperous, and secure. It also is relevant because in Panama, U.S. forces achieved strategic and operational objectives with relatively low costs in terms of time, blood, and treasure. While the situation in Panama was clearly easier, strategy played a decisive role in that success. There are elements of that strategy that prove instructive for current operations in Iraq. The United States helped Panama gain its independence from Colombia in exchange for its acceptance of U.S. plans to build a canal. After the United States agreed to turn over the Canal to Panama, but before the transfer, Manuel Noriega took over the Panamanian Armed Forces and then overturned a democratic election to consolidate his control of the government. While Noriega tried to justify his actions through anti-U.S. nationalism, he was seen by many, if not most, Panamanians as a gangster. As the scope of his corruption became clear and his attacks on Americans became extreme, the United States decided to act. It appears that adopting certain strategies used in Panama could make a positive difference in Iraq. These strategies are as follows: (1) war game alternative COAs [Course of Action] to help identify alternatives before investing in potentially harmful strategies; (2) limit outside support by not provoking intervention and sealing borders; (3) protect friends and key infrastructure by creating a prioritized protected assets list; (4) win the legitimacy fight by simultaneously emphasizing the legitimacy of democratic representatives and institutions and emphasizing the illegitimacy of adversaries; and (5) continue to war game branches and sequels even as the campaign plan is executed, updating it to depict new realities and new enemy innovations."
Air University (U.S.). Air Command and Staff College
Caffrey, Matthew
2005
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Container Security Initiative and the Customs-Trade Partnership against Terrorism: Securing the Global Supply Chain or Trojan Horse? Hearing Before the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, United States Senate, One Hundred Ninth Congress, First Session, May 26, 2005
From the opening statement of Norm Coleman: "Today's hearing will focus on the Federal Government's efforts to secure maritime commerce and the global supply chain. In early 2002, U.S. Customs and Border Protection launched both the Container Security Initiative (CSI), and the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT), to address the threat of terrorism and the security of the global supply chain. These programs were, and still are, the right concepts for security in our new threat environment. Under the leadership of Commissioner Bonner, CBP aggressively implemented these programs, rather than endlessly debate the details here in Washington. That accomplishment alone is worth applauding. However, these programs have been in existence for over 3 years and it is time to start asking some tough questions and identifying how we can improve upon these promising concepts. While I believe these programs are indeed the right concepts, our oversight investigation into these programs has revealed significant shortcomings that we will address here today. In concert with our efforts, the Government Accountability Office (GAO), conducted two extensive audits of these programs. These reports reveal some significant problems and outline the substantial work that is required to transition these promising initiatives into effective and sustainable programs." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Norm Coleman, Carl Levin, Susan M. Collins, Daniel K. Akaka, Frank Lautenberg, Thomas R. Carper, Robert C. Bonner, Richard M. Stana, Stephen E. Flynn, and C. Stewart Verdery, Jr.
United States. Government Printing Office
2005
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Department of Homeland Security Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2006: Hearings before a Subcommittee of the Committee on Appropriations, United States Senate, One Hundred Ninth Congress, First Session on H.R. 2360, an Act Making Appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security for the Fiscal Year Ending September 30, 2006, and for Other Purposes
Thad Cochran: "Today we begin our committee's review of the fiscal year 2006 budget request for the Department of Homeland Security. We will consider specifically the request for programs and activities of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Customs and Border Protection, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement."
United States. Government Printing Office
2005
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Homeland Security: Agency Plans, Implementation, and Challenges Regarding the National Strategy for Homeland Security, Report to the Chairman, Subcommittee on National Security, Emerging Threats, and International Relations, Committee on Government Reform, House of Representatives
"The National Strategy for Homeland Security sets forth a plan to improve homeland security through the cooperation of federal, state, local, and private sector organizations on an array of functions. These functions are organized into the six distinct 'critical mission areas' of (1) intelligence and warning, (2) border and transportation security, (3) domestic counterterrorism, (4) protecting critical infrastructures and key assets, (5) defending against catastrophic threats, and (6) emergency preparedness and response. Within each of these mission areas, the strategy identifies 'major initiatives' to be addressed. In all, the strategy cites 43 initiatives across the six mission areas. GAO reviewed the strategy's implementation to: determine whether its initiatives are being addressed by key departments' strategic planning and implementation activities, whether the initiatives have lead agencies identified for their implementation, and whether the initiatives were being implemented in fiscal year 2004 by such agencies; and, identify ongoing homeland security challenges that have been reflected in GAO products since September 11, 2001, by both mission area and issues that cut across mission areas."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2005-01
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Anti-Terror Strategy, the 9/11 Commission Report & Terrorism Financing: Implications for U.S. Policymakers
"The framework for U.S. anti- terrorism strategy is governed by the National Strategy for Combating Terrorism, a 30-page interagency document released by the White House on February 14, 2003. The National Strategy for Combating Terrorism is designed to complement other elements of the National Security Strategy including sub-strategies for homeland security, weapons of mass destruction, cyberspace, critical infrastructure protection, and drug control. While the National Strategy for Homeland Security focuses on preventing terrorist attacks within the United States, the National Strategy for Combating Terrorism focuses on identifying and defusing threats before they reach U.S. borders. Incorporated in the National Strategy for Combating Terrorism is a strong preemptive component, a strong focus on reducing proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and a defense-in-depth framework. The intent of the strategy is to stop terrorist attacks against the United States, its citizens, its interests, and U.S. friends and allies around the world, as well as to create an international environment inhospitable to terrorists and their supporters. The strategy emphasizes that all instruments of U.S. power"diplomatic, economic, law enforcement, financial, information dissemination, intelligence, and military"are to be called upon in combating international terrorism. The strategy fits into the wider strategic concept of 'defense-in-depth,' which projects four concentric rings of defense against terrorist attacks against the United States."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Contemporary Conflict
Perl, Raphael
2005-01
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Fact Sheet: U.S. Department of Homeland Security 2004 Year End Review [December 30, 2004]
The following is a snapshot of 2004 accomplishments and statistics for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. This covers: Customs and Border Protection, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, Immigration & Customs Enforcement, Transportation Security Administration, United States Citizenship & Immigration Services, United States Coast Guard, United States Secret Service, and US-VISIT.
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Press Office
2004-12-30
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Border Security: U.S.-Canada Immigration Border Issues [Updated December 28, 2004]
"The United States and Canada are striving to balance adequate border security with other issues such as the facilitation of legitimate cross-border travel and commerce, and protecting civil liberties. Congress has taken action to improve border facility infrastructure, increase the number of border patrol agents and immigration inspectors at the northern border, and provide these officials with additional technologically upgraded equipment. Congress has also taken action to track the entry and exit of foreign visitors by mandating an automated entry/exit system, however, its anticipated implementation at the northern border may not have an adverse impact on travel as most Canadian nationals will be exempt from the requirements of the system. Moreover, there have been several bi-national initiatives aimed at making the border more secure while facilitating travel. These initiatives are outlined in a 30-point plan, which was signed by officials from both countries in December 2001."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Seghetti, Lisa M.
2004-12-28
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Terrorist Identification, Screening, and Tracking under Homeland Security Presidential Directive 6 [Updated December 23, 2004]
"In Homeland Security Presidential Directive 6 (HSPD-6), the Administration announced plans to establish a Terrorist Screening Center (TSC), as a multi-agency effort to be administered by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), where several watch lists are being consolidated into a single terrorist screening database (TSDB). The TSC is the latest of three multi-agency efforts undertaken by the Administration to better identify, screen, and track known terrorists and suspected terrorists. The other two are the Foreign Terrorist Tracking Task Force (FTTTF) and the Terrorist Threat Integration Center (TTIC). The TSC complements the FBI-led FTTTF's efforts to prevent terrorists from entering the United States and to track and remove them if they manage to enter the country. The TTIC serves as a single locale where terrorism-threat data from all sources are analyzed further. Under HSPD-6, certain terrorist watch list functions previously performed by the Department of State's Bureau of Intelligence and Research (INR) were transferred to the TTIC and TSC. At the TTIC, intelligence analysts are building a Terrorist Identities Database (TID) based on TIPOFF, the U.S. government's principal terrorist watch list database prior to HSPD-6. From TID records, TSC analysts have built a consolidated Terrorist Screening Database. The Administration has increased access to, and use of, lookout records by making them available in a "sensitive but unclassified" format to authorized federal, state, local, territorial and tribal authorities; certain private sector entities; and certain foreign governments. From system to system, however, there remains no standardization of data elements, such as, name, date of birth, place of birth, nationality, or biometric identifiers. Moreover, additional work remains to upgrade and integrate consular and border management, intelligence, criminal history, and biometric systems."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Krouse, William J.
2004-12-23
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Mexico-U.S. Relations: Issues for the 108th Congress [Updated December 22, 2004]
"The United States and Mexico have a special relationship as neighbors and partners under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The friendly relationship has been strengthened by President Bush's meetings with President Fox but has been weakened by disagreements over Iraq and other issues. Major congressional issues are trade, migration/border security, drug trafficking, and political issues."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Storrs, K. Larry (Keith Larry), 1937-
2004-12-22
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Ridge and McLellan to Move Forward with Land Pre-Clearance Pilots [December 17, 2004]
On the 3rd anniversary of the signing of the United States-Canada Smart Border Declaration, U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge and Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Anne McLellan released the fifth Smart Border Action Plan Status Report. Highlights of the significant progress made include: Issuance of a framework to put land pre-clearance in place at the Buffalo-Fort-Erie Peace Bridge and at one other border crossing; the finalization of Canadian and U.S. regulations for the Safe Third Country Agreement; the decision to expand U.S. pre-clearance facilities to the Halifax International Airport as soon as the construction of the necessary infrastructure is completed; and the expansion of the Free and Secure Trade (FAST) program to seven now high volume commercial crossings along the land border.
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Press Office
2004-12-17
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Joint U.S.-Canada Agreement for Land Pre-Clearance Pilots [December 17, 2004]
The Government of the United States of America and the Government of Canada committed to building a more secure, efficient and modern border in signing the Smart Border Declaration. Substantial progress has been made in implementing the associated Action Plan. At the heart of the Smart Borders process is the recognition that public security and economic security can be achieved simultaneously and are mutually reinforcing. Pre-clearance at the land border is an excellent example of how the United States of America and Canada can advance the dual objectives of security and facilitation. In signing the present framework, both Governments commit to move forward with land pre-clearance at the Buffalo-Fort Erie Peace Bridge. This pre-clearance pilot would involve the re-location of all U.S. primary and secondary border operations for both commercial and passenger traffic from Buffalo to Fort Erie. The Governments also commit to move forward to re-locate Canadian border inspection functions to the U.S. side of the border at a different location and are actively exploring crossings where this may be suitable, such as the Thousand Islands Bridge or Queenston-Lewiston.
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Press Office
2004-12-17
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Port and Maritime Security: Background and Issues for Congress [Updated December 15, 2004]
"The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 heightened awareness about the vulnerability to terrorist attack of all modes of transportation. Port security has emerged as a significant part of the overall debate on U.S. homeland security. The overarching issues for Congress are providing oversight on current port security programs and making or responding to proposals to improve port security. The U.S. maritime system consists of more than 300 sea and river ports with more than 3,700 cargo and passenger terminals. However, a large fraction of maritime cargo is concentrated at a few major ports. Most ships calling at U.S. ports are foreign owned with foreign crews. Container ships have been the focus of much of the attention on seaport security because they are seen as vulnerable to terrorist infiltration. More than 6 million marine containers enter U.S. ports each year. While the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) analyzes cargo information to target specific shipments for closer inspection, it physically inspects only a small fraction of the containers. The Coast Guard and CBP are the federal agencies with the strongest presence in seaports. In response to September 11, 2001, the Coast Guard created the largest port-security operation since World War II. The Coast Guard has advanced its 24- hour Notice of Arrival (NOA) for ships to a 96-hour NOA. The NOA allows Coast Guard officials to select high risk ships for boarding upon their arrival at the entrance to a harbor."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Frittelli, John
2004-12-15
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9/11 Commission: Current Legislative Proposals for U.S. Immigration Law and Policy [Updated December 6, 2004]
"Reforming the enforcement of immigration law is a core component of the
recommendations made by the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the
United States (also known as the 9/11 Commission). The 19 hijackers responsible
for the 9/11 attacks were foreign nationals, many of whom were able to obtain visas to enter the United States through the use of forged documents. Incomplete
intelligence and screening enabled many of the hijackers to enter the United States despite flaws in their entry documents or suspicions regarding their past associations. According to the Commission, up to 15 of the hijackers could have been intercepted or deported through more diligent enforcement of immigration laws. There are several major bills that seek to implement recommendations of the 9/11 Commission, and some propose significant revisions to U.S. immigration law and policy. The two notable bills that would revise immigration laws are H.R. 10, the 9/11 Recommendations Implementation Act, as amended, introduced by the Speaker of the House of Representatives Dennis Hastert, and passed by the House as S. 2845 on October 8, 2004, and S. 2845, the National Intelligence Reform Act of 2004, as amended, introduced by Senators Susan Collins and Joseph Lieberman and passed by the Senate on October 8, 2004. A draft intelligence reform bill made public on November 20, 2004, indicated that the conferees were including some - but not all - of the immigration provisions under consideration. This report briefly discusses some of the major immigration areas under consideration in comprehensive reform proposals, including asylum, biometric tracking systems, border security, document security, exclusion, immigration enforcement, and visa issuances. It refers to other CRS reports that discuss these issues in depth and will be updated as needed."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Wasem, Ruth Ellen; Garcia, Michael John
2004-12
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Border and Transportation Security: Overview of Congressional Issues [December 17, 2004]
"Enhancing border and transportation security (BTS) are essential strategies for
improving and maintaining homeland security.The effective implementation of border and transportation security measures requires the participation of numerous agencies. Federal responsibility for border and transportation security efforts is primarily contained within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). DHS's Border and Transportation Security Directorate houses: the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (CBP), which has responsibility for security at and between ports-of-entry along the border; the Bureau of Customs and Immigration Enforcement (ICE), which has responsibility for investigating and enforcing the nation's customs and immigration laws; and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), which is responsible for the security of the nation's transportation systems. The U.S. Coast Guard is a stand-alone agency within DHS, and has primary responsibility for the maritime components of homeland security (U.S. ports, coastal and inland waterways, and territorial waters). DHS's Citizenship and Immigration Services Bureau (USCIS) is charged with approving immigrant petitions. In addition, the Department of State's (DOS) Bureau of Consular Affairs is responsible for issuing visas; and the Department of Justice's (DOJ's) Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) has a significant policy role through its adjudicatory decisions on specific immigration cases. This report provides a summary of the roles and responsibilities of various federal agencies engaged in border and transportation security activities; describes selected concepts and terms prominent in border and transportation security debates; and discusses selected issues that might be of interest to the 109th Congress. These issues include immigration-related border security issues; cargo security issues; aviation and non-aviation transportation security; and maritime security issues. This
report will be updated as significant developments occur. An appendix contains
summaries of the following: key recommendations of the 9/11 Commission affecting
border and transportation security; similar provisions in the recently enacted
Intelligence Reform and Terrorist Prevention Act of 2004, and Homeland Security
Presidential Directive 11 (HSPD-11)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Lake, Jennifer E.
2004-12
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Follow-up Review of the Status of IDENT/IAFIS Integration
"United States immigration authorities have long recognized the need for an automated fingerprint identification system to quickly determine the immigration and criminal histories of aliens they apprehend. However, the inability of immigration and law enforcement fingerprint identification systems to share information prevents law enforcement agencies from identifying criminals and wanted aliens in their custody, and has led to tragic results in some cases. In a report issued earlier this year, the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) described one such case, where border authorities twice released a man attempting to enter the country illegally. He subsequently returned to the United States illegally and traveled to Oregon where he raped two nuns, killing one. Because the federal government's immigration and law enforcement fingerprint databases were not linked, the immigration agents who stopped and released him at the border never learned of his extensive criminal record. See OIG report entitled 'IDENT/IAFIS: The Batres Case and the Status of the Integration Project,' March 2004 (Batres report). Congress has expressed increasing concern that the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS) and the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Automated Biometric Identification System (IDENT) have not been integrated. After the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Congress required that the fingerprint identification systems of law enforcement agencies be made interoperable so that criminals and known or suspected terrorists can be more readily identified."
United States. Department of Justice. Office of the Inspector General
2004-12
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U.S. Customs and Border Protection: Performance and Annual Report - Fiscal Year 2004
"This report highlights U.S. Customs and Border Protection's (CBPs) major initiatives , performance goals, mission accomplishments, and presents related financial management information that represents an on-going effort to provide useful information to internal and external customers. The figures shown for FY 04 program operations and performance measures in the Management Discussion and Analysis Section of the report are those that were available as of October 31, 2004. This year, CBP processed more than 468 million passengers and pedestrians, as well as 23.5 million sea, truck and rail containers; apprehended over 1.1 million aliens attempting to enter the U.S. illegally; seized more than 2.1 million pounds of illegal drugs; and collected more than $27 billion in revenue. This has truly been a year of accomplishments. The entire CBP workforce has risen to help unify our agency and meet our priority homeland security mission of preventing terrorists and terrorist weapons from entering our nation."
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
2005
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Review of the Use of Stolen Passports from Visa Waiver Countries to Enter the United States
"Our review encompassed the actions taken by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) inspectors when aliens seeking admission into the United States attempt to use stolen passports. Previously, we reported on the national security implications of the lost and stolen passport problem in our review of the Visa Waiver Program (VWP).1 This review examines information that we obtained during our VWP review relating to non-VWP matters of sufficient independent importance to warrant the initiation of a separate review."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2004-12
