# Presentation: 326914

## The Department of Homeland Security

- BTS Policy

**The Department of Homeland Security**

- Border & Transportation Security Directorate
- Assistant Secretary C. Stewart Verdery, Jr.
**President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, October 5, 2004**

## Border and Transportation Security Directorate Mission

- BTS Policy

- To protect national security and promote public safety by enforcing our nation's immigration and customs laws, providing a trained and effective border and transportation system defense against all external threats, including international terrorists, and other threats such as illegal drugs and other contraband, while preserving the free flow of legitimate trade and travel.

## BTS Policy Issue AreasRelated to International Mobility

- BTS Policy

- BTS Policy Issue AreasRelated to International Mobility

- US-VISIT
- Visa Policy
- Visa Waiver Program
- Advanced Passenger Information
- Aviation Security

## US-VISIT

- BTS Policy

- Entry
- US-VISIT Entry began January 5, 2004
- Between January 5 and September 23, US-VISIT has
- processed more than 9.1 million passengers through US-VISIT entry procedures
- had more than 1,185 hits against our biometric lookout database of criminal and immigration violations
- Average wait time: 6 seconds
- Visa Waiver Program Enrollment began September 30, 2004
- Land Border at Secondary inspection to begin December 31, 2004
- Exit
- Administered as a pilot program at BWI Airport and the Miami Seaport
- Will pilot 13 additional ports in 2004
- Technological solutions for the land borders

## Visa Policy

- BTS Policy

- Under the Homeland Security Act, DHS has responsibility for establishing visa policy
- DHS employees are assisting consular officers in the visa process in high-risk areas under the Visa Security Program
- BTS Policy has assumed primary role in development of visa policy in DHS
- Improvements to the Security Advisory Opinion Process
- Outreach to scientific, education, business and travel industries

## Visa Waiver Program

- BTS Policy

- Established in 1988 to facilitate travel
- Criteria to address the law enforcement and security interests
- DHS is conducting country reviews to be completed this month
- Biometric passport deadline extension until 2005
- VWP enrollment into US-VISIT to enhance security

## Advanced Passenger Information

- BTS Policy

- Needle in a Haystack: finding passengers who pose a threat to the aircraft or the other passengers on the aircraft, or are believed to be involved with terrorism before they board a plane
- Passenger Name Record (PNR): Agreement with the EU that permits the legal transfer to DHS of advanced PNR from airlines flying between EU countries and the United States
- Advance Passenger Information System (APIS):  information provided by the airline industry to target suspect or high-risk passengers
- Secure Flight: system that implements a key recommendation of the 9/11 Commission to enhance domestic commercial aviation security by adjusting certain features of the current pre-screening system

## Aviation Security 

- BTS Policy

- Aviation Security

- Air Transit Program
- Transit Without Visa Program was suspended August 7, 2003 because of credible intelligence
- DHS is now in the process creating a new program that will facilitate secure transit through U.S airports, while allowing DHS flexibility to respond to identified terrorism threats
- Air Marshals Security
- Strategically placed on flights based on credible intelligence
- Hardened Cockpit Doors
- US air carriers have equipped the entire US passenger aircraft fleet with hardened doors
- US requires all international passenger flights into or out of the US to be equipped with hardened doors
- Arming Pilots
- Increased recruiting and training of FFDOs
- Opened FFDO program to pilots of all cargo aircraft
- Enhanced Screening Procedures
- Increased use of explosive detectors
- Expanded use of physical searches in both TSA screening “primary” and “secondary”

## BTS Policy