As reported in previous WAR Reports, technologies are a perpetual frontrunner in securing the nation’s borders. Radio frequency identification, or RFID, is a generic term for technologies that use radio waves to identify people or objects automatically. The RFID Journal has stated in their 2006 forecast: ?Will RFID reach the tipping point this year? It might, but one thing is for sure?this will be the year when people realize RFID can do more than track boxes in the supply chain.? RFID employs several vehicles for identifiers, the most common being the use of a serial number that identifies the person or object, along with possible other information, on a microchip that is attached to an antenna. The transmission is a radio wave reflected from the RFID for use by a transponder that is passed onto computers that assimilate the data for use.
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a United Nations agency, late in 2005 issued the specifications on the project. The US State Department issued final regulations, stating that passports issued after October 2006 would carry embedded RFID chips. The chips would carry the holder?s personal data and a digital photograph.
Through the US-VISIT program, DHS ran a three-month test with RFID embedded ?e-passports? at Los Angeles International Airport in the fall of 2005. Other test beds are in the planning stages now. However, increasing security using technology is not inexpensive. The line item for the technology budget for the US-VISIT program has topped more than $1 billion for the past three years.
RFID chips have been embedded in I-94 forms, which are used by people who cross US borders. Five border crossings will continue testing until the end of spring 2006. This March, the evaluation will start, and a determination to continue or halt the program will be made. The US-VISIT program has tested forms with RFID at five US border crossings: two in Nogales, AZ; two in Blaine, WA; and one in Alexandria Bay, NY.
The program applies to people without green cards who enter the US with a visa, whether for work, school, research or tourism, or those from 27?mostly European?countries who are traveling under the ?Visa Waiver Program,? which allows travelers to stay for up to 90 days without a visa. Over the next year, people in these categories will be issued new ?I-94? visa cards that are embedded with an RFID tag, and the Homeland Security Department requires that the I-94 cards be carried at all times.
The US-VISIT program installed biometric entry procedures in December 2004 at the 50 busiest land border ports along both of the US’ land borders. The program has completed 104 installations staffed by Customs and Border officials trained in this type of biometric technology. Since January 2004, the US-VISIT program has been busy with processing 44 million visitors, making it the largest application use of biometrics in the world.
This technology has proven successful because with the application of RFID in I-94 forms; the US-VISIT program has been able to stop almost 1,000 people with histories of criminal or immigration violations as well as federal penitentiary escapees, rapists, drug traffickers, and murderers from entering the US. RFID technology is proving effective albeit expensive, but the expense will be worth it.
