An IT Budget Guess for Border Security

The Homeland Security Department announced today that the president’s budget, scheduled for release Monday, will include $12.14 billion for border security and immigration and enforcement efforts. But the details on IT are sparse.

According to the press release, $775 million will go toward secure border fencing, infrastructure and technology contributing to the Secure Border Initiative, or SBI, and $100 million will support the expanded use of E-Verify, DHS’ automated system employers use to confirm the employment eligibility of new hires. The department expects E-Verify participation to increase from about 50,000 employers now to more than 100,000 this year, and 300,000 in fiscal year 2009, according to the release.

DHS also announced that $442.4 million will go toward additional border patrol agents, $3 billion to enforcement activities by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and $1.8 billion to additional detention beds.

DHS officials gave no specifics of what those budget allocations will involve and whether any funds will go toward supporting IT efforts, but that doesn’t mean industry can’t provide some guesses. Ray Bjorklund, senior vice president and chief knowledge officer at FedSources, a federal research and marketing firm in McLean, Va., chimed in on the percent of funds he expects to go toward IT products and services:

• $775 million for secure border fencing, infrastructure and technology under SBI in fiscal 2009: 5 percent
• $442.4 million for additional border patrol agents: 0 percent
• $3 billion for enforcement activities: 2 percent
• $1.8 billion for ICE custody operations: 0 percent
• $100 million for E-Verify: 50 percent

Will the overall budget bring far bigger numbers for DHS IT efforts? One can only hope.