From: Amara Graps (amara@amara.com)
Date: Mon Dec 16 2002 - 15:35:58 MST
(...but it may already be too late)
On the site:
http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,56859,00.html
we see:
"Under the Enhanced Border Security Act of 2002, the government is
required to develop an automated information system called Chimera
that places machine-readable biometric identifiers in all visas and
passports by 2004. The General Accounting Office estimates Chimera
will cost between $6 billion and $11.5 billion to build."
On the site:
http://travel.state.gov/passport_pressrelease.html
we see:
"All passports, except those required for urgent travel, will be
issued in the United States using the new more secure
photo-digitized imaging system.
Effective April 8, 2002, American citizens residing or traveling
abroad, who require issuance of a U.S. passport, will be issued the
latest, state-of-the-art passport. It incorporates a digitized image
with other enhanced security features. Because this technology is
not available at U.S. embassies and consulates, overseas passport
issuance is being transferred to the National Passport Processing
Center in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
Travel documents in the post-September 11 world have become even
more important. The new passport has many features that make it one
of the most secure travel documents produced anywhere in the world.
Getting these more secure passports into circulation will help
minimize the misuse of American passports by criminals, terrorists,
and others."
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.5 : Wed Jan 15 2003 - 17:58:46 MST