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Tuesday, December 23, 2003 Posted: 8:05 AM EST (1305 GMT)
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seaports -- except those from Western Europe and a handful of other countries - will soon have their fingerprints scanned and their photographs snapped as part of a new program designed to enhance border security. The program, to be up and running on January 5 at all 115 airports that handle international flights and 14 major seaports, will let Customs officials instantly check an immigrant or visitor's criminal background.
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The program, called US-VISIT, or U.S. Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology, will check an estimated 24 million foreigners each year, though some will be repeat visitors. The only exceptions will be visitors from 28 countries — mostly European nations whose citizens are allowed to come to the United States for up to 90 days without visas.
Go gte Inkless fingerprints will be taken and checked instantly against a national digital database for criminal backgrounds and any terrorist lists. The process will be repeated when the foreigners leave the country as an extra security measure and to ensure they complied with visa limitations. "I think people have come to understand that an increase to security is necessary," said U.S. Homeland Security spokesman Bill Strassberger.
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The foreigners will be fingerprinted and photographed when they enter the country. Strassberger said once screeners become proficient, the extra security will take only 10 to 15 seconds per person. Foreign travelers also will continue to pass through regular Customs points and answer questions. Photographs will be used to help create a database for law enforcement. The travel data is supposed to be securely stored and made available only to authorized officials on a need-to-know basis.
http://www.cnn.com/2003/TRAVEL/12/23/airport.security.ap/index.html
12/23/2003
r US-VISIT Q&As: BACKGROUND INFORMATION Introduction The Department of Homeland Security's US-VISIT Program, which will serve to protect the United States and its territories from threats to national security, is one of the Agency's top priorities. The program will provide the capability to record the entry and exit of non-US citizens into and out of the United States, and provide officials with information about persons who are in the United States in violation of the terms of their admission to the United States.
•
The goals of US-VISIT are to: • Enhance the security of our citizens and visitors • Expedite legitimate travel and trade • Ensure the integrity of the immigration system • Safeguard the personal privacy of our visitors
What are the laws authorizing the US-VISIT Program? In Section 110 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (IIRIRA), Congress initially directed the Attorney General to develop an automated entry and exit control system to collect records of arrival and departure from every foreign visitor entering and leaving the United States. However, Congress amended and replaced Section 110 of IIRIRA with the Immigration and Naturalization Service Data Management Improvement Act (DMIA) of 2000, which directed the integration of existing Department of Justice/Department of State electronic foreign visitor arrival and departure data systems. DMIA does not authorize the collection of new or additional data or the imposition of documentary requirements solely for purposes of implementing the System required by DMIA. However, DMIA further states that nothing in that law shall be construed to reduce or curtail the Attorney General's or the Secretary of State's authority under any other provision of law.
Janice Kephart-Roberts From: Sent: To: Subject:
Sam Brinkley Monday, December 08, 2003 5:51 PM Team 5; Team 7 Fwd: Logistics for Interview of ADM Loy
unnamed (5 KB)
----- Forwarded message from "Straus, Brandon"
----Date: Fri, 5 Dec 2003 13:40:14 -0500 From: "Straus, Brandon" Reply-To: "Straus, Brandon" Subject: Logistics for Interview of ADM Loy To: [email protected]
Dan, The interview will be at 9 a.m. at the DHS Nebraska Avenue Complex (NAC) , 3801 Nebraska Ave. , NW DC. Driving north on Massachussets Ave, enter Ward Circle and make the first right on to Nebraska. Then make the second left into the driveway and park in the visitor's lot. Walk up the hill to Building 11, the vistors' center. If arriving by taxi, I believe the third left on Nebraska leads directly to Building 11. We will have someone at building 11 to escort you to the meeting, which will be in Building 3, and is tentatively scheduled in room 3010, but I will confirm that with you next week. The contact person in Building 3 is Suouu Oalan (202) Tf
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QUESTIONS FOR ASA HUTCHINSON Dec. 22,2003 National Commission on September 11 FYI: Briefings received from:
• • • • • • • • •
employees at JFK Int'l on the border inspection process today National Targeting Center Mike Cronin intel sharing amongst DHS entities on border information CBP organizational structure And interviews of the Gus de la Vina and inspector MP Interviews with Admiral Loy and Mr. Bonner Briefing from Mike Doherty at ICE and on SEVIS Interviews of Dan Cadman, Tim Goyer, Morrie Berez
U.S. VISIT. • Request: briefing and demonstration (at a POE if possible) of US Visit asap. Is it up and working as a pilot anywhere right now? • What are the difficulties achieving timely implementation? • What data will be available at primary within the US Visit system? (which watchlists? What about Charles K? visa information, other than just photo? 5) Q^-Vri*^ * • CIA Contributions. Numerous senior management officials at DHS have been briefed on critical new CIA tools that focus on terrorist travel documents. Their findings and formulas have been significantly incorporated into computer modules, but to our knowledge are »e?i«orporated/ivvh)>t««J«into any PI 10 j>yjtcin. What is your plan for incorporating innovative counter-terrorism other agencies into a high priority action plan at DHS? . s 0 fcfVy '. ,'t \Ot»-v*£*C -9 (si£.\C. &.JC lAT^S to ")- yv*XOffice of Visa Enforcement. • Please explain the current set up for the Office of Visa Enforcement between BTS and ICE. • Please describe the value added on a policy level of having former INS personnel overseas at consulate offices, other than availability of INS terminals to check INS databases. • What strategy does DHS have in place to assess visa policy around the world? Will it be done on a country by country basis? Will different consulates in the same country potentially have different policies (example of Jeddah v. Riaydh)? How are you communicating your policies abroad? Other than what the terms of the MOU with DOS is, to what extent are you engaging DOS on the creation of policy? Homeland Security Council. What is the role of the Homeland Security Council in the day to day life of BTS? What value, if any, do you see in the HSC for DHS? Who do you work with at HSC? Command and Control at the border in case of national emergency. Is there a command and control strategy is in place for a fully integrated and seamless border and transportation agency response in the event of another national emergency?^»Has a threat-based risk assessment been done of immigration-related border security? We would like a copy if so. DHS Organization for borders. Right now, border security is within DHS, but sprinkled throughout DHS, with the Coast Guard and Citizenship and Immigration Services reporting directly to the Secretary, and others under Hutchinson, (TSA, CBP, ICE). • Please tell us how you are integrating policy that cuts across: o BTS and CIS
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BTS and Coast Guard Solving problems that arise between immigration sectors on issues such as Intel, fraud, visa policy enforcement, application of US Visit biometrics to CIS. Who is ultimately responsible for technology upgrades, chimera development and database access issues?, technology, and information integration on issues such
Recommendations. What recommendations do you have for making DHS a stronger institution in the area of border management? Information acquisition and analysis? DHS organization. What are your biggest challenges with the current structure of DHS? Intelligence. • Currently, you do not have a BTS intel shop^From whom do you receive intel? How often? On what topics? • Do you receive general threat information as well as information specific to the BTS mission? For example, is your intelligence unit set up to acquire information that, for example, (this is your example) terrorists using a sea container to conceal a weapon of mass destruction and detonated it on arrival at a port? • How do you intend to help the Border Patrol receive Real Time Intelligence? Is the National Targeting Center providing information on those taken into custody? (They never mentioned BP as a customer when we were briefed.) Command and Control at the border in case of national emergency. • Is there a command and control strategy is in place for a fully integrated and seamless border and transportation agency response in the event of another national emergency?
October 30, 2003 Thomas H. Kean CHAIR
Max Cleland
The Honorable Asa Hutchinson Under Secretary Border and Transportation Security Department of Homeland Security Washington, DC 20528
Fred F. Fielding
Dear Mr. Hutchinson:
Lee H. Hamilton VICE CHAIR Richard Ben-Veniste
Jamie S. Gorelick Slade Gorton John F. Lehman Timothy J. Roemer James R. Thompson
Philip D. Zelikow EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
As you know, the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States (better known as the 9-11 Commission) is directed by statute to prepare a full and complete account of the circumstances surrounding the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, including the nation's preparedness for, and immediate response to, the attacks. The Commission is also chartered to identify and evaluate lessons learned and provide recommendations to prevent future acts of terrorism upon our nation. Public Law 107-306 authorizes the Commission to secure needed information directly from any agency. Thus far, the Commission has compiled an extensive written record numbering more than two million pages. Building on this record, meetings with senior policymakers are essential to developing an authoritative narrative of the September 11, 2001 attacks. Your perspective is vital to the Commission's understanding of 9-11 and its immediate aftermath, and we are therefore writing to request an interview with you during the week of December 9, 2003. The Commission wishes to discuss a wide range of topics with you, including (but not limited to) your description, analysis, and assessment of: •
DHS, White House, and Congressional direction and oversight of the DHS Border and Transportation Security Directorate (BTS) since its inception in March 2003;
•
BTS's formulation of counterterrorism policy, programs, and resources, including the Office of Overseas Enforcement, US Visit, and the disposition of the Federal Air Marshals Service;
•
The development and implementation of transportation security policy, and policies concerning immigration, enforcement, border security and counterterrorism;
•
The sharing of terrorism-related information known to the intelligence and law enforcement communities with BTS and its bureaus; and
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TKe Honorable Asa Hutchinson October 30, 2003 Page 2 •
Where the balance should be struck between security and other interests, such as the economic and border policy interests of the United States, and the protection of constitutional and human rights.
You may wish to review notes and other documents to refresh your recollection of these matters prior to the interview. We are, of course, interested in any other issues you deem relevant to the Commission's understanding of 9-11 specifically and border and transportation security generally, as well as your thoughts on policy recommendations for the future. Members of the Commission may attend, but the interview will be conducted by Commission staff. It is the general policy of the Commission to record interviews. This proposed interview is separate from your requested participation in a public hearing to be held in Washington, DC, on January 26-27, 2004. You will receive a separate invitation to testify in the coming weeks, and we hope that you will agree to appear before the Commission for this important public forum. Please have a member of your staff contact Janice Kephart-Roberts at 202 401-1705 to indicate your availability for such an interview and to relay any questions you or your staff may have. Thank you in advance for your time and cooperation with the Commission and its staff in this important matter. Sincerely,
Philip Zelikow Executive Director cc:
Daniel Levin, U.S. Department of Justice John Mitnick, U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Asa Hutchinson Hosts Ask the White House
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Mathew, from New York writes: Will ICE retain narcotics investigations? Asa Hutchinson Absolutely. It is essential to our nation's fight against illegal drugs We do hope to improve our with DBA and other agencies involved in the fight.
Carloantonio, from Richardson writes: More on news from Iraq: American's need to know that American soldiers are doing some goi country. We hear daily reports of dying and sabotaged and wounded American soldiers but w any accounts or stories of American soldiers saving the lives of Iraqi citizens, improving the Ih that country, establishing a solid form of government. America will support this war if they are given the impression that American troops are positiv Iraq. Give the media access to any and all proof that this is happening. We need visual accou American soldiers handing out food, medicine, providing electricity, water, shelter, and health Iraqis. We need visual and descriptive accounts of American soldiers helping each other. Asa Hutchinson Our efforts overseas in fighting terrorism is enormous benefit to our homeland security efforts disruption of cells, the intelligence gained and the leadership dismantled - all help us to prote homeland.
Glen, from Boston writes: Is it true that U.S. Homeland Security officials will review visa applications only for those from
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12/3/2003
Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge at Dulles International Airport
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COMMISSIONER BONNER: Good morning. I think it's still morning. I'm delighted to be here International Airport today with Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge, and with the Un< for Border and Transportation Security, Asa Hutchinson. Mr. Secretary, I think what you've seen already today, I think you can see that we've come a the last six months at Customs and Border Protection since it's been up and running, and as Department of Homeland Security. It's one uniform. It's one team, and it's one fight. I want to thank Secretary Ridge for his leadership and vision because it's been his leadership Department of Homeland Security was created that there is one agency of our government n for protecting and securing our nation's borders and ports of entry. Mr. Secretary, as you know, before March 1 of this year, before the Department of Homelanc was created, there were actually inspectors from three different agencies, three different dep government, and now we have Customs and Border Protection, one agency for the borders < States and for our ports of entry under the Department of Homeland Security. And Secretary Ridge, I must say to you, he knew that we could be more effective and we coi better job of preventing terrorists and terrorist weapons from entering this country if we unifie agencies into one. And I can tell you, and I think everybody else can tell you, that he was rigl more effective, and we are doing a better job at protecting our country and making America s So it's with great pleasure, Mr. Secretary, that I can tell you that the goal that you set of creal at the border, is becoming a reality. And it's becoming a reality very fast. And it's my great he all, to serve under Secretary Tom Ridge, and it's my special privilege to introduce to you the Homeland Security, the Honorable Tom Ridge. SECRETARY RIDGE: Thanks. Thank you very much. Thanks, all. (Applause.)
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Well, first of all, Commissioner Bonner, let me thank you and our colleague in public service, Hutchinson, for arranging the visit and for leaning forward aggressively to help us create one border. There are many experiences that I think we can all call upon in our professional lives as men Department or perhaps just as citizens traveling, when we often wondered, as we traveled ai world and then back into the country, why the United States was represented by different pe< different uniforms when we came back home.
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And certainly it was that notion that we could train more people to do more things that would flexibility and the agility so that at the border there would be a single face, a single uniform, a
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/09/20030903-9.html
12/3/2003
Homeland Security Launches Operation Ice Storm
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Homeland Security Launches Operation Ice Storm PHOENIX, AZ Top law enforcement and government officials have joined with the Departme Homeland Security to announce Operation ICE Storm, an unprecedented multi-agency initial the Department's Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to combat human smuggling violence it has generated in Arizona and nationwide. At a news conference in Phoenix this morning, ICE Acting Assistant Secretary Michael J. Ga details of the effort, which includes the formation of a task force made up of federal, state, ar agencies. Garcia pledged that the task force will use its broad range of authorities and resou dismantle organized crime outfits that have turned human smuggling into a bloody but profile "We're dealing with ruthless individuals who view human life as nothing more than cargo for | last week's deadly shoot-out in Arizona showed, the value of a dollar is much more importan' than the value of human life," Acting Assistant Secretary Garcia said. "We're making a comr put an end to this violence. Never have agencies on so many levels come together and pooh expertise to deal with this problem." ICE, as the largest investigative arm of Homeland Security, brings to bear a broad array of ai resources that make it uniquely qualified to lead the fight against human smuggling. ICE age combine immigration, smuggling, and financial investigative powers to attack the criminal rin< variety of levels. ICE's financial investigations expertise, for example, will allow the task force money trial in ways not previously possible Garcia also noted that members of the community will play an important role in providing infc about human smuggling suspects featured on a newly established ICE Storm "Most Wanted' toll-free public tip line. Court statistics show that, from January through October, Phoenix experienced 216 homicide to 149 for the same period last year, a 45 percent increase. Over the last few years, there ha a significant number of incidents involving extortion, kidnapping, and home invasions. In 200 were 623 such incidents, 75 percent of which were the result of human smuggling or related During last week's deadly freeway shooting spree, DHS's Border Patrol helped capture four i involved in the shooting. However, several other smuggling suspects remain at large, and 1C with the Border Patrol and local law enforcement to track down the rest of the killers. Taking dangerous fugitives off the street is the aim of the ICE Storm "Most Wanted" list, which authc unveiled to the media today. The list features five fugitives linked to violent smuggling incidents in the Phoenix area. Amoi Wanted" is Javier Avila-Valdez, who is charged in connection with a smuggling-related shoot that killed three people, including a 15-year old boy. Five others have been arrested and trie< Each received 16 life terms plus 235 years. Residents who have information on any of the five "Most Wanted" are encouraged to call the toll-free number - 1-866-DHS-2ICE. Operated on a 24-hour basis, that number also enables
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/! 1/20031110-3.html
12/3/2003