Baggage screening incomplete, INS struggling with security, reports say By Toni Locy, USA TODAY WASHINGTON =97 The nation's 159 international airports remain vulnerable to= =20 illegal entry by foreign terrorists and smugglers because the Immigration=20 and Naturalization Service has not followed security recommendations made=20 four years ago, a new government report says. The report was issued=20 Thursday by the Justice Department's inspector general's office, which in=20 1999 found a range of problems with the design, security and communications= =20 systems at INS airport facilities used to screen millions of foreign=20 visitors each year. The report said a follow-up review of a dozen=20 unidentified airports nine months after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks=20 revealed not only that the INS had not addressed the problems, but also=20 that there were new deficiencies. Among those were "inoperable alarms and=20 cameras, and security features that had been turned off, were not=20 monitored, or had not been installed," the report said. "By not adequately= =20 following up on the recommendations of our previous audit, airports=20 continue to be vulnerable to illegal entry, escapes, injuries and smuggling= =20 of aliens and contraband into the United States," Inspector General Glenn=20 Fine said. Meanwhile, a report by the Transportation Department's inspector general=20 Thursday cited problems with airport machines used to screen the baggage of= =20 foreign visitors. It said machines many airports use to check for=20 explosives give too many false readings. The reports reflected the ongoing= =20 struggle by government agencies to screen the waves of foreigners =97 43.1= =20 million in 2001 =97 who fly into the USA. The report on the INS, an agency= =20 whose persistent failure to screen and track visitors and immigrants has=20 led to its reorganization, was particularly critical. It said INS=20 officials' fear of the airline lobby stopped them from using their=20 authority to force airports and airlines to provide more secure areas to=20 screen foreigners. INS officials who requested anonymity did not dispute=20 the report's findings. They said that they are improving security, but=20 added that it is not practical to shut down parts of airports to resolve=20 disputes over the quality of space the INS gets to screen travelers. The=20 Justice Department report said the INS, which will become part of the new=20 Department of Homeland Security on March 1, must pass on the results of the= =20 latest report to airports, airlines and INS inspectors. The agency did not= =20 do that with the 1999 report. The Justice Department report also challenged INS officials' contention=20 that security problems have not led to any escapes, deaths or injuries.=20 Fine's staff uncovered seven such incidents. He rejected INS officials'=20 claims that airport security is not their job. He said airport security and= =20 border security are synonymous. *************************************************** The owner of Roger's Trinbago Site/TnTisland.com Roj (Roger James) escape email mailto:ejames@escape.ca Trinbago site: www.tntisland.com Carib Brass Ctn site www.tntisland.com/caribbeanbrassconnection/ Steel Expressions www.mts.net/~ejames/se/ Site of the Week: www.pichemas.com TnT Webdirectory: http://search.co.tt *********************************************************