Security Screening Process 1 Running Head: SECURITY SCREENING PROCESS

Security Screening Process [Mo a!ed M Madnia" [#!erican Mi$itary Uni%ersity"

Security Screening Process & Security Screening Process

Introduction T e Security Screening Progra! is a !a'or o(erationa$ res(onsi)i$ity o* t e Trans(ortation Security #d!inistration +TS#,- It ai!s to (re%ent non.#!ericans / o (ose a security ris0 to enter #!erica or to o)tain (er!anent resident status on t e one and1 and to (re%ent

anyone raising concerns a)out t e security ($an access to goods1 sites or sensiti%e in*or!ation *ro! go%ern!ent1 ot er- It is one o* t e !ost (ro!inent *unctions e2ercised )y TS# +3it ington1 &445,-

Discussion T e tragedy o* 11 Se(te!)er in t e United States reiterated o/ i!(ortant it is to a%e good security

screening (rocedures in t e entire #!erican (u)$ic ad!inistration- In is 6ece!)er &441 )udget1 t e Go%ern!ent

o* #!erica announced a signi*icant increase o* *unding *or TS# o%er t e ne2t *i%e years- Muc o* t is increase /i$$ )e

de%oted to (rogra!s o* go%ern!ent screening and *i$tering o* i!!igration a(($icationsOn )e a$* o* t e Go%ern!ent o* #!erica1 TS# conducts security assess!ents *or screening *or t e go%ern!ent and

Security Screening Process 7 *oreign countries as /e$$ as screening a(($ications *or i!!igration and citi8ens i( +3a$d1 &445,In t e United States !ore t an t/o !i$$ion dai$y (assengers o* co!!ercia$ a%iation1 go t roug t e screening

(rocedures *or arsena$ and insecure ite! )e*ore )oarding onto t e aircra*t (ro'ect- Passengers to t eir 9.ray e2a!ination carried out )y and and go t roug a !eta$

detector searc - #n i!age o* e%ery

and $uggage1 e2ce(t a

*e/ cre!atory urns1 sacred ite!s1 drugs t at re:uire (ri%ate screening is e%a$uated )y a Trans(ortation Security #d!inistration +TS#, o**icia$- I* t e sus(ect is (ro i)ited ite!1 and $uggage !ust )e searc ed )y and or e2($osi%e

trace detector +3a$d1 &44;,T e $atest statistics1 *ro! t e e2isting Trans(ortation Security #d!inistration said t at in &44<1 security (ersonne$ interce(ted 171=441444 (ro i)ited ite!s in t e security c ec0(oint1 / ere 11-< !i$$ion to 1-< !i$$ion $ig ter1 0ni*e1 etc +U-S- Ho!e$and Security1 &445,Ho/e%er1 t ese tests a%e resu$ted in signi*icant o(erating

costs and (assenger de$ays- TS# a$so re(orted t at during &44<1 t e a%erage !a2i!u! (assenger /aiting ti!e is 11-=< !inutes1 !ore t an 14 !inutes to esta)$is (er*or!ance

goa$s !ore- #nd !ore t an 14 !inutes o* /aiting ti!e can )e used as t e s ie$ding e**ect o* :ua$itati%e indicators to

Security Screening Process > e2($ain t at suc !easures1 t e rea$ !eaning s ou$d )e ?no

trou)$e@ sy!)o$i8es t e e2(erience o* t e c ec0(oints- In ot er /ords1 t e a%iation industry1 t e U-S- go%ern!ent and %arious sta0e o$ders toget er are going to (ro%ide t e /or$d.c$ass security /it /or$d c$ass custo!er ser%ice-

Government Screening T e screening (rogra! *or t e Go%ern!ent a$$o/s t e Ser%ice to (ro%ide security assess!ents to a$$ de(art!ents and agencies- T e ser%ice a$so as a $icense to access t e

air(ort1 t e Par$ia!ent (recincts and nuc$ear (o/er (rogra!- T ese (rogra!s e$( strengt en security and reduce

t e terrorist grou(s and to see0 access to c$assi*ied in*or!ation or ot er goods and e:ui(!ent )roug t )y *oreign go%ern!ents and ris0s- Since Se(te!)er 111 &4411 TS# is re:uired to gi%e !uc Muc !ore ad%ice-

o* t e go%ern!ent screening is done *or *edera$

de(art!ents- T e Go%ern!ent Po$icy Security Po$icy +GSP, T e *edera$ go%ern!ent o**icia$s1 a de(art!ent or a *edera$ agency *or access to con*identia$ go%ern!ent in*or!ation to (er*or! t eir duties to a$$ !i$itary and contract e!($oyees o* t e !e!)ers o* t e security c$earance- T e GSP (ro%ides *or t ree $e%e$s o* security c$earance: Con*identia$ +Ae%e$ I,1 Secret +Ae%e$ II, and To( Secret +Ae%e$ III, +Ae%ine1

Security Screening Process B &445,- T e aut ori8ation re:uired de(ends on access to c$assi*ied in*or!ation or assets t at a (erson needs to (er*or! its *unctionsSu)!itted e$ectronica$$y1 re:uests *or security c$earance $e%e$s I and II are c ec0ed in data)ases o* TS#In !ost cases1 it is reco!!ended to ac:uiesce to t e sa*ety o**icer o* t e de(art!ent or agency +6SOC#SO,- I* t e c ec0s re%ea$ :uestiona)$e in*or!ation !ust )e !ore researc 1 *or e2a!($e co!($eting an inter%ie/ /it t e

su)'ect or conduct *ie$d in%estigations in good and due *or!- T is is re:uired *or any re:uest *or a security c$earance $e%e$ III +Hirs )erg D S/eet!an1 &445,T e *ie$d in%estigation inc$udes c ec0s in TS# *i$es1 inter%ie/s conducted /it *riends1 neig )ors and t e $oca$ (o$ice and a

a(($icantEs e!($oyer1 c ec0ed /it (ossi)$e inter%ie/ /it

t e a(($icant- #s (art o* t is

in%estigation1 !a0e e%ery e**ort to e2($ain t e (ur(ose o* t e issue and in t e inter%ie/ (artici(ation is %o$untarySecurity c ec0 (rocess !ay *ind i!(ortant in*or!ation1 $eading to t e agree!ent (ro(osed to t e security c ec0 /ere re'ected- In ot er cases1 t e Ser%ice !ay co!!unicate to t e 6SOC#SO in*or!ation / ic 1 a$t oug t e concern !ay

not )e /ort y o* re'ection o* t e a(($ication1 )ut sti$$ re:uire t e ser%ices o* t e $oan interest and ta0e

Security Screening Process < a((ro(riate action- Under t e GSP1 to assist t e indi%idua$ and is $oya$ty to t e re$ia)i$ity o* t e assess!ent1 t e a%e t e e2c$usi%e rig t to grant

U-S- sector1 )ut t ey a$$

or deny security c ec0s +E$ias1 &445,In &447.&44>1 TS# recei%ed 7=17&= re:uests *or access to sites and air(orts1 and 7=1B4; Re:uire!ents *ro! go%ern!ent de(art!ents and inc$uding t e 6e(art!ent o* 6e*ense +6N6, institution security c$earance- 6istur) t e *edera$ go%ern!ent t an ot er regions1 /it an a%erage o* =

days t e security c$earance a(($ication (rocess o* Ae%e$ I1 11 days to re:uest a Ae%e$ II and ;& days *or an a(($ication *or Ae%e$ III- In t e case o* 6N61 it too0 &41 1; and 5< days res(ecti%e$y +3a$d1 &44;,-

Screening of foreign countries T e ser%ice conc$uded /it ot er countries1 *oreign

agencies and internationa$ organi8ations reci(roca$ agree!ent1 according to its assess!ent o* t e security (ro%ided )y t e go%ern!ent- T ese agree!ents are a((ro%ed )y t e U-S- Pu)$ic Sa*ety and E!ergency Pre(aredness1 t e Minister1 t e Ministry o* Foreign #**airs and Internationa$ Trade U-S- consu$tationsRe:uests *or *oreign screening ty(ica$$y *a$$ into t/o categories: in t e data)ase and /ant to (artici(ate in

Security Screening Process = anot er country1 or (eo($e a)road / o $i%e or $i%ed1 audit and *ie$d in%estigation in t e United States o* #!erica residentia$ ins(ections and in%estigations to a(($y *or a (osition re:uires access to c$assi*ied in*or!ation 6iscussed a)road +3it ington1 &445,In &447.&44>1 t e Ser%ice as recei%ed and (rocessed

11&4; re:uests *or security assess!ents as (art o* its screening (rogra! *or *oreign countries-

Screening Of Applications for Immigration and Citizenship T e sa*ety ad%ice (ro%ided )y t e 6e(art!ent on issues o* i!!igration and citi8ens i( are a crucia$ (art o* t e *ig t against t reats to t e security o* #!erica i!(orted *ro! a)road- T e security screening ($ans ser%e as a (ri!ary de*ense against (ersons see0ing to enter #!erica in order to under!ine security3it t e United States Citi8ens i( and I!!igration1

t e (rogra! re:uires screening- T e I!!igration 6e(art!entEs !ain *unction is to (ro%ide ad%ice to c$ose t e CI# security- T is is to (re%ent t e! *ro! )y(assing t e i!!igration $a/s1 or *or t e (rotection o* (ersons entering t e country / o are not granted re*ugee status in t e United States +3a$d1 &445,-

Security Screening Process ; T e !ost signi*icant !odi*ication t at /as !ade $ast year in ter!s o* security screening as )een i!($e!enting

t e (rogra! o* security screening *or a$$ re*ugee c$ai!ants in #!erica- T is (rogra! is a go%ern!ent in%enti%eness to !a0e certain t at a$$ e2(atriate (etitioners arri%ing in #!erica are su)'ect to audit t e records o* t e TS# and t e RCMP )e*ore t ey can a((ear )e*ore t e Co!!ission I!!igration and Re*ugee Goard o* #!erica- It a$so ai!s to identi*y and *i$ter as soon as (ossi)$e during t e (rocess o* deter!ining re*ugee status c$ai!ants re(resent a security ris0 or $i0e$y to )e cri!ina$s- Ge*ore t e i!($e!entation o* t is (rogra!1 TS# does not *i$ter c$ai!ing re*ugee status +U-S- Ho!e$and Security1 &44;,In addition to sa*ety ins(ections o* t e ne/ res(onsi)i$ities o* t e ser%ice o%er t e years1 re*ugees and e2(atriate / o su)!it an a(($ication *or $asting resident category *ro! t e United States or *oreign security c ec0s- It (ro%ides a sus(ension direct$y re$ated to security and set t e $a/ standards o* t e I!!igration and Re*ugee Protection #ct1 according to t e %ie/s o* Minister o* I!!igration and Citi8ens i(TS# a$so (ro%ides CI# /it sa*ety e%a$uations on

c$ai!ants *or #!erican citi8ens i(- CI# su)!its to TS# *or re%ie/ a$$ a(($ications *or citi8ens i(- TS# /arns IC# / en

Security Screening Process 5 its audits a$$o/ i! to unco%er any concerns re$ated to

sa*ety and t en (ro%ides a sa*ety assess!ent +Ae%ine1 &445,T e use o* in*or!ation tec no$ogy as great$y e$(ed

to e2(edite t e (rocessing o* re:uests *ro! CI#- In 155<. 155=1 t e Ser%ice )egan to recei%e re:uests *or citi8ens i( direct$y Processing Centre in Sydney +No%a Scotia, under t e Progra! 6ata Interc ange- Since No%e!)er &4411 CI# is a%ai$a)$e to a$$ i!!igration o**icers in #!erica1 a syste! t at a$$o/s t e! to send data to TS# e$ectronica$$y1 / ic great$y *aci$itates t e security screening- Re:uests *or screening o* i!!igrants / o co!e to CI# *ro! #!erica are at t e !o!ent a$$ and$ed e$ectronica$$y )y t e TS# and CI#

+Hirs )erg D S/eet!an1 &445,I!!igrants *ro! outside t e United States a%e a$/ays

ta0en a *air$y $ong (rocess1 )ecause t e screening re:uires t e de(art!ent recei%ed a ard co(y o* t e di($o!atic )ag-

#n e$ectronic data e2c ange syste! /as recent$y insta$$ed in se$ected $ocations out o* t e country1 so t at !any a(($ications can no/ )e (rocessed )y e$ectronic !eans1 t us reducing ti!e rotation- E**orts /i$$ )e !ade1 a $arge nu!)er o* syste!s insta$$ed in a (osition to )oost t e *igure o* TS#Es connection o**icia$s at o!e and a)road in

order to s(eed u( (rocessing and reduce t e )ac0$og-

Security Screening Process 14 In &447.&44>1 TS# recei%ed a((ro2i!ate$y >>154= a(($ications *or screening a(($ications *or i!!igration *ro! #!erica +inc$uding t e Progra!!e *or t e deter!ination o* re*ugee status, and (ro%ided >< 1;7 security assess!ents +3a$d1 &445,- In addition1 t e Ser%ice recei%ed a((ro2i!ate$y &>1&>7 a(($ications *or screening a(($ications *or i!!igration *ro! outside o* #!erica and ><>< ot er a(($ications o* t e United States1 a tota$ o* =7 =5< screening re:uests *or i!!igration a(($ications- It too0 on a%erage >& days Progra! +E6I, to (rocess c$ai!s !ade in #!erica- #s (art o* t e Screening Progra! o* i!!igration a(($ications a)road1 our security $iaison o**icers a%e )een consu$ted in >;1> cases +i)id,-

Conclusion 6uring t e (ast year1 t e Ser%ice recei%ed &&1<;1 a(($ications under t e CSP (rogra!1 / ic $ets you *i$ter

t e re*ugees ear$y in t e (rocess to identi*y cases t at !ay constitute a security t reat-

Security Screening Process 11 Re*erences

E$ias1 G- +&447, Air Cargo Security- Congressiona$ Researc Ser%iceHirs )erg1 C- D S/eet!an1 G- +&447, Are Airliners Flying Targets? Po(u$ar Science Ae%ine1 S- +&447, Re(ort U-S- 6e(art!ent o* Ho!e$and Security- +&447, Transportation Security Administration " Air Cargo Strategic #lan$ U-S- 6e(art!ent o* Ho!e$and Security1 Trans(ortation Security #d!inistration3a$d1 M- A- +&44>, #rivacy Issues Slo% pdated Airline nfriendly s!ies- U-S- Ne/s D 3or$d

Security$ T e Ne/ Yor0 Ti!es ((- sect- B3a$d1 M- A- +&44B, Screening &egins At 'aryland Train Station- T e Ne/ Yor0 Ti!es 3it ington1 T- +&447, Terrorism( Stung &y Stingers$ Gu$$etin o* t e #to!ic Scientists %o$- B5 no-+7,