The Department of Homeland Security issued a press release this week announcing a five-year contract for the US-VISIT Program was awarded to primary supplier Accenture LLP and its team. The contract is worth between $10 million and $10 billion.

Accenture LLP will provide a wide range of services including strategic support, design and integration activities, technical solutions, deployment activities, training, and organizational change management.  The purpose of the operation will be to assist the US-Visit Program in the management of data on foreign nationals before they enter the United States, when they enter, during the visit, and after exit.  The goal of this process is to eventually create a virtual border management system.

Asa Hutchinson, Under Secretary of Border and Transportation Security for the Department of Homeland Security, said that the US-Visit Program is a top priority for this department and has four goals:

§         Enhance the security of U.S. visitors and citizens

§         Facilitate legitimate travel and trade

§         Ensure the integrity of the immigration system

§         Safeguard the personal privacy of visitors

Since January 5, 2004, The US-VISIT Program has processed more than 4.5 million foreign nationals at 115 airports and 14 seaports.  More than 500 persons with prior or suspected criminal activity have been intercepted.  Presently, US-VISIT requires that most foreign visitors arriving at an air or seaport have their two index fingers scanned and a digital photograph taken to verify identity.