9/11 + 7: Taking stockDHS: Progress and priorities, I

Since it was created five-and-a-half years ago, DHS, by fits and starts — and some false starts — has made significant progress in protecting the United States from dangerous people and goods, protecting the U.S. critical infrastructure, strengthen emergency response and unifying department operations. Progress has been uneven, and much remains to be done, but there is every reason to believe that the department’s 216,000 employees, with the right leadership and sufficient budget, would continue to make progress toward a safer America. Here is a list of the main acheivements of DHS, and the main challenges it faces.

Protecting the United States from dangerous people

DHS aims to prevent the entry of terrorists and criminals while facilitating the legitimate flow of people by strengthening interior security efforts and continuing to increase security at America’s borders.

• Expanded border fencing and patrol: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has completed more than 338 miles of fencing, with approximately 184.2 miles of primary pedestrian fence and approximately 153.8 miles of vehicle fence now in place. CBP is well on its way to the goal of 670 miles of fencing by the end of 2008: 370 miles of pedestrian and 300 miles of vehicle fencing. Additionally, the FY 2009 budget seeks to hire, train and equip 2,200 new Border Patrol agents, which will more than double the size of the Border Patrol from 2001 levels, to 20,000 agents by the end of September 2009.
• Connecting the dots: DHS renewed its Passenger Name Record (PNR) agreement with the European Union, which requires airlines to provide DHS with PNR data for all flights carrying passengers into and out of the U.S. In addition, DHS began accepting voluntary applications on 1 August for the Electronic System for Travel Authorization, a new online system that is part of Visa Waiver Program (VWP) reforms and is required by the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007. Once ESTA is mandatory, all nationals or citizens of VWP countries who plan to travel to the U.S. under the VWP will need to receive an electronic travel authorization prior to boarding a U.S.-bound airplane or cruise ship. Rather than relying on paper-based procedures, ESTA will leverage 21st century electronic means to obtain basic information about who is traveling to the U.S.
• Better biometrics: Biometric collection is underway at 106 airports, 15 seaports, and in the secondary inspection areas of 154 land ports of entry. Ten U.S. airports currently collect ten