US-VISIT Exit Portion Still a Work in Progress
November 19, 2009 (WASHINGTON) – Today, House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) announced the release of a report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) on the state of the US-VISIT program. The report, entitled Key US-VISIT Components at Varying Stages of Completion, but Integrated and Reliable Schedule Needed (GAO-10-13), finds there is not a unified schedule to completely implement a comprehensive exit function for US-VISIT. GAO concludes that it is difficult to determine when and how US-VISIT will be completed without a fully integrated and reliable schedule, and recommends the Department of Homeland Security compile an integrated master schedule for the program.
Chairman Thompson made the following statement with the release of the report:
“Once again, GAO indicates that DHS does not have a roadmap for delivering a comprehensive biometric exit system. This is a troubling conclusion given the number of years that this Committee has called for such a plan.
Although I was encouraged by the many steps DHS has taken to implement US-VISIT exit, the Department must have a broad, integrated, and reliable schedule for the entire exit system. Many of these planning challenges should be addressed when DHS announces its new biometric air exit strategy in the coming months. I look forward to working with DHS in implementing a cost-effective US-VISIT air exit system that can leverage the Department’s many resources at our airports.”
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FOR MORE INFORMATION: Dena Graziano or Adam Comis at (202) 225-9978
