DHS to hold industry day on border security

Customs and Border Protection SBInet Industry Day Announcement

The Homeland Security Department will host a Secure Border Initiative Industry Day Jan. 26 in Washington, D.C.

Electronic registration -– www.regonline.com/Checkin.asp?EventId=88946 -– will be open until noon Jan. 25 or until the maximum capacity is reached. Officials hope to convey the initiative’s overall scope and goals, including the creation of an integrated border security system, use of technology to strengthen the borders and establishment of a common command center.

The event will be the first in a series of meetings with industry officials that will focus on the program’s requirements and expectations, according to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Web site.

Speakers include DHS Deputy Secretary Michael Jackson; Deborah Spero, CBP’s acting commissioner; Gregory Giddens, director of the initiative’s program executive office; and Kevin Stevens, acting director of CBP’s program management office for the initiative.

Border Patrol officials held an Industry Day in August 2004 when they were revamping the Integrated Surveillance Intelligence System, which was renamed America’s Shield Initiative before it was folded into the Secure Border Initiative. The Secure Border Initiative could cost as much as $2 billion, according to some estimates.