Access Control
& Security Systems

The U.S. Senate has approved President Bush's Border Security Bill -- which, among other provisions, will require the issuance of travel documents with biometric identifiers -- by a 97-0 margin. The bill now moves to the House for final approval, which is expected to occur quickly. The bill will then be sent for presidential approval.

"Improving our nation's border security is vital to protecting Americans from future terrorist attacks," Bush said. "I commend the Senate for passing legislation that strengthens border security and gives our law enforcement officials additional tools to secure our homeland."

A look at the bill's provisions:

* Authorizes an increase of at least 200 Immigration and Naturalization Service inspectors, INS investigative personnel and associated support staff in each of the fiscal years 2002 through 2006.

* Gives the INS an additional $150 million to improve its border security technology.

* Requires consular officials to electronically transmit visa applications so that immigration officials have the information at U.S. ports of entry before the alien arrives.

* Requires the issuance of machine-readable, tamper-resistant travel documents with biometric identifiers like face recognition technology, and requires all U.S. ports of entry to have equipment able to read those documents. Participants in the visa waiver program must also have passports that are machine-readable, tamper-resistant and that have biometric identifiers.

* Bans aliens from countries on the terrorist watchlist from getting nonimmigrant visas unless the Secretary of State and the Attorney General certify that the aliens pose no security threat to the United States.

* Requires that the INS check the terrorist and criminal watchlist before an alien is approved to participate in the visa waiver program.

* Requires that all arriving flights from a foreign country send passenger manifests in advance of arrival.

* Repeals the 45-minute time limit in clearing passengers on international flights coming into the United States.

* Requires the State Department and the Justice Department to collect any foreign student's date of entry and port of entry into the United States, date of school enrollment, date the student leaves school by graduation or resignation, and the degree program or field of study. Also requires the university to report to the INS if the student has not shown up for class a month after the classes begin.

This month in Access Control

• Targeting The Customer
• Electronic Pedigrees
• One Hero Among Many
• Who? What? When? Where? Why?
• More from September's issue