Hello there,
Last night I discovered the new tool that the USA has crafted to fight Evil. So I took the plane from an American airport I had never used before to go back to Canada where I live. Because I'm not American or Canadian, I was asked to use the new super tool of the American customes. It is called US-Visit. I was really mad cause my plane was terribly late, I had no idea I had to do that and I was told so at the very last minute, when I was to board and I had to run back in the terminal to do it....
The procedure is rather simple and quick. You go to a special numerical desk inside the gate lounge of the terminal. You scan your passport and then you are asked some simple questions, to scan your finger prints and to not smile to the camera.
When I got back home I started wondering why I had to do that. I mean, I went through the customs on entering the US land a couple of days before (the usual stuff: angry questions, crumpy teacher's looks, finger prints, left then right, picture, don't smile to the camera...). I can understand (even though I have serious doubts about both the efficiency and the moral validity of that) that the USA are paying attention to who is entering the territory. But I couldn't find any really reason to control the leaving ones. I mean, as far as I'm gone, I'm not a danger anymore. Also if I do something bad inside the US, I guess the american police or the CIA or whatever has the means of checking the plane list and know exactly where I went and when I did so.
So, as I take this blog seriously, I searched online a bit. So this procedure is a part of the
US-Visit program set up by Homeland Security. The entering procedure, that we all know if we travel a bit, is explained again. The outgoing procedure is the same and exist only in some airports, which list is given. I give you this list just in case:
- Baltimore/Washington International
- Chicago O’Hare International
- Dallas/Fort Worth International
- Denver International
- Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County International
- Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International
- Luis Muñoz Marin International in San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Newark Liberty International
- Philadelphia International
- San Francisco International
- Seattle-Tacoma International
There is also a pilot program in effect at certain airports and seaports where visitors who used US-VISIT on entry will have to perform a similar procedure upon exiting the United States. Passengers will check out of the country at exit kiosks located within the terminal. Similar to the process the visitors encountered on entry, their travel documents are read, their two index fingers will be digitally scanned at the exit kiosk, a digital picture will be taken and they will receive a printed receipt that verifies that they have checked out. An exit workstation attendant will be available to assist with visitors' check out.The reason for the whole procedure (entering and outgoing) is also expressed:
Using all these tools, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer will then either admit you or conduct additional inquiries based on the verification results. These procedures reduce fraud, identity theft, and the risk that terrorists and criminals will enter the U.S. undetected or by using stolen or fraudulent documents.But here again, no convincing reason for checking people who leave. Especially since the proecdure is note general, I imagine that anyone who has something to hide, or just the poeple who think they are sufficiently bothered will choose to leave America from elsewhere. A friend told me it is maybe just for statistics. Possibly, but is that worth the bother? I really don't understand... and I couldn't find anything conceiving online. If you have an idea, you're quite welcome to comment on that.
Have a good day!
Tara-George
PS: In my searched I found some interesting statements. First, it is really fun to see that the system wasn't even conceive in America... some foreigners need to be checked, others....
The consulting company Accenture is the lead contractor for US-VISIT. The selection of Accenture in 2004 was controversial due to the location of the company's headquarters. In 2000, Accenture was created and incorporated in Bermuda, as a separation of global business consulting services from the financial consulting services of Andersen Consulting. Because Accenture was created in 2000, and because Andersen was not previously incorporated, Accenture was never previously considered to be incorporated in the United States. (from the Wikipedia site)PPS: Some fellow bloggers are even tougher on the system, criticising the cost/efficiency ratio. Check out this post from Schneier: Failure of US-Visit
Sources: http://www.dhs.gov/xtrvlsec/programs/editorial_0525.shtm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/US-VISIT_(United_States_Visitor_and_Immigrant_Status_Indicator_Technology)
Blog of Schneier: http://www.schneier.com/blog/
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