    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2003, Book I)]
    [March 25, 2003]
    [Pages 295-296]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Letter to Congressional Leaders Transmitting a Report Required by the
    Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry Reform Act of 2002
    March 25, 2003

    Dear _____ :
        Enclosed is the report to the Congress, prepared by my
    Administration, identifying Federal law enforcement and intelligence
    community information identified as necessary by the Department of State
    (DOS) to screen visa applicants and the Department of Homeland Security
    (DHS) to screen applicants for admission to the United States, and to
    identify those aliens inadmissible or deportable under the Immigration
    and Nationality Act. I am forwarding this report to fulfill the
    requirement under section 201(b) of the Enhanced Border Security and
    Visa Entry Reform Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-173).
        The Federal Government is working to improve data-sharing
    capabilities between agencies. To support this effort, the Department of
    Homeland Security will create an inventory of essential information
    needed to secure our Nation; determine horizontal and vertical
    integration requirements; define target architecture for information
    integration; and, determine the resources necessary to integrate
    information. In the short term, DHS will work to virtually consolidate
    or link watch lists from multiple agencies and create a homeland
    security portal for users at all levels of government. Additionally,
    consular officers and immigration inspectors have access to more
    complete intelligence and criminal history information through the
    Interagency Border Inspection System (IBIS) and the Consular Lookout and
    Support System (CLASS). Since September 11, more than seven million
    names of persons with Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) records were
    added to CLASS so that now it contains approximately 13 million name
    records from DOS, DHS, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and
    intelligence resources. The U.S. Customs Service has also provided
    20,000 name records of serious violators to CLASS. The CLASS now has
    over 78,000 records of suspected terrorists, up 40 percent in the past
    year. Since September 11, 2001, approximately 20,000 new terrorist
    lookouts have been entered into the DOS's TIPOFF system.
        Furthermore, an Entry-Exit System (EES) project team is building an
    integrated, automated information EES to enable existing/ emerging entry
    exit processes. This core EES will integrate electronic arrival and
    departure manifests, electronic visa data, Federal agency lookouts,
    traveler information, Student and Exchange Visitor Information System
    (SEVIS) data, Immigration Benefit information, overstay information as
    well as perform risk assessment analysis and lookout queries, and
    incorporate biometric technology.
        Additionally, the newly established Terrorist Threat Integration
    Center (TTIC) will analyze terrorist-related information collected
    domestically and abroad in order

    [[Page 296]]

    to form the most comprehensive picture of the terrorist threats we face.
    The TTIC will also play a lead role in overseeing a national counter-
    terrorism tasking and requirements system and in maintaining an up-to-
    date database of known and suspected terrorists that will be accessible
    to appropriate officials at all levels of government. The TTIC
    represents an important milestone in our effort to improve collaboration
    between and among the intelligence and law enforcement communities.
        These efforts and others are improving available information and
    systems while planning for the development of compatible information
    systems. This will allow Federal, State, and local entities to share
    information nationwide that will ultimately contribute to securing our
    borders and protecting our Nation.
             Sincerely,

                                                              George W. Bush

    Note: Identical letters were sent to Richard G. Lugar, chairman, Senate
    Committee on Foreign Relations; Orrin G. Hatch, chairman, Senate
    Committee on the Judiciary; Pat Roberts, chairman, Senate Committee on
    Intelligence; Henry J. Hyde, chairman, House Committee on International
    Relations; F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr., chairman, House Committee on the
    Judiciary; and Porter J. Goss, chairman, House Committee on
    Intelligence. This letter was released by the Office of the Press
    Secretary on March 26.