STATEMENT
WASHINGTON, April 22, 2008 – The Air Transport Association of America (ATA), the industry trade organization for the leading U.S. airlines, today issued the following statement calling on the U.S. government to assume full responsibility for implementation of US-VISIT Exit procedures:
“The airlines believe, like Congress, that the collection of biometric information to satisfy the requirements for US-VISIT Exit is the responsibility of the federal government, not the private sector. This is an industry in crisis, and adding the Department of Homeland Security $3.5 billion proposal – which we have every reason to believe, from experience, will actually be higher – on top of the financial burdens airlines already bear is unconscionable.”
ATA and its member airlines would like to work in cooperation and partnership with the Department of Homeland Security and US-VISIT to develop an Exit solution that will enhance the U.S. immigration process – a solution that is managed and staffed by government agents at existing government security checkpoints or other non-intrusive locations.
ATA members and their affiliates transport more than 90 percent of all U.S. airline passenger and cargo traffic. For additional information about the industry, visit www.airlines.org.
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