Access Control / Identification
USCIS and FBI getting better at watch-list name checks, but other vulnerabilities remain
January 6th, 2009
DHS’s U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the FBI need to do better in their efforts to weed out terrorists, their supporters, and those acting fraudulently to enter the country, from the law-abiding individuals who apply for lawful permanent residency (LPR) in the U.S.
That is one conclusion of a recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) study of the LPR process.
But while vulnerabilities and issues remain, recent improvements also have occurred, the GAO found.
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GateKeeper adds four CAMS devices
January 5th, 2009
New product - Gaithersburg, MD-based GateKeeper USA, Inc. has added four Container Automated Monitoring System (CAMS) devices to its offerings.
They are the Alpha series for basic applications; the Bravo series for perishable goods and cold chain management, featuring real time temperature reading with alarm mode, and spoilage detection to include bacteria; the Charlie series for valuable and sensitive cargo; and the Delta series for covert/military applications, featuring system NBC (nuclear, biological, chemical) detection and an intrusion/tampering biometrics scanner-reader.
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TSA names McGowan FSD for Dallas Love Field
January 5th, 2009
People - The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has named Morris 'Mo' McGowan federal security director (FSD) for Dallas Love Field Airport.
McGowan began his career at TSA in early 2002, and he has served TSA in a number of capacities, both at headquarters and in the field, including a tour as assistant administrator for Security Operations in the Washington, D.C. area.
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More than 400 million gov't and health sector smart cards shipped in '08, per IMS
January 5th, 2009
Research - The surging market for smart cards, which jumped from under 200 million units shipped in 2005 to over 400 million shipped in 2008, is expected to peak in 2009 and then decline, at least temporarily.
That's the word from Wellingborough, UK-based IMS Research, the provider of market research and consultancy services for a range of global electronics markets.
The reason for the fall-off, according to IMS, will be the completion of what it calls the "Chinese Citizen ID scheme," with most recipients having their cards in hand by the end of 2009.
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USCIS ombudsman examines E-Verify implementation in Napolitano's Arizona
December 30th, 2008
After studying the implementation of a mandatory E-Verify employment authorization system in the State of Arizona -- where DHS Secretary-designate Janet Napolitano currently serves as governor -- a DHS ombudsman has concluded that the E-Verify system is working rather well.
HySecurity curved gate chosen by Seattle utility
December 26th, 2008
Because of clearance issues and an unusual angle of entrance, Seattle City Light required an unusual curved gate for its headquarters near Seattle’s downtown business district.
Coast Guard seeks members for area maritime security committees
December 25th, 2008
The U.S. Coast Guard is inviting individuals who are interested in serving on an Area Maritime Security Committee in any Captain of the Port Zone in the U.S. to apply for membership directly with their local Captain of the Port.
GAO says no to security guard firm
December 24th, 2008
The general counsel of the Government Accountability Office (GAO) has denied a second protest from an Italian firm that was turned down, twice, when it bid to provide security guard services at U.S. Army garrisons in Italy.
The first protest was denied because the protesting firm, Pond Security Group Italia, JV, a joint venture of Vincenza, Italy, "failed to meet a definitive responsibility criterion requiring submission of licenses" from "relevant geographical regions" in Italy.
The U.S. Army originally posted a request for proposals in April 2008 seeking guard services in Vicenza and Livorno, Italy. In Italy, according to the GAO, local "prefecture licenses to provide security services" are required from each party to a joint venture.
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