The Homeland Security Department sent computer technicians to 115 airports and 14 seaports nationwide to shepherd the launch of the U.S. Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology system. The tech team of roughly 150 was drawn from the department’s own IT staff as well as from DHS contractors. Homeland Security in mid-November started testing the U.S. Visit system at Atlanta’s Hartsfield Jackson International Airport. “Then we expanded it to other locations from December 22 to yesterday,” said Shonnie Lyon, director of increment management for the program. “What we learned from the pilots is that if we had a technical person on the ground, it was very beneficial.” DHS launched the first operational stage of U.S. Visit at 5 a.m. EST. By 8 a.m., the system had processed about 3,000 travelers, Lyon said. Full Story