News

Homeland Security chief supports Global Entry kiosks

May 19, 2011

Homeland Security chief Janet Napolitano told leaders in the travel industry Thursday that she's in favor of trusted traveler programs that use kiosks to scan the passports of pre-approved travelers, allowing them to skip lengthy airport security screenings and customs declarations.

"(Trusted traveler) programs like Global Entry make a significant difference," Napolitano said during her speech at the World Travel and Tourism Summit in Las Vegas. "The average time at a kiosk is less than one minute."

Addressing more than 1,000 delegates of the travel and tourism industry from around the world, Napolitano underscored the importance of international collaboration to ensure the safety of commercial aviation and improve the travel experience for all passengers through trusted traveler initiatives such the Global Entry program, according to a press release issued by the Department of Homeland Security.

"In today's world, the travel and tourism industry is a crucial part of our global economy," Napolitano said in the speech. "We are committed to working with our partners in the aviation, hotel and lodging industries to protect the traveling public and expedite legal travel and trade by prioritizing our resources on the people and goods that pose the highest risk."

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) started its pilot study of the Global Entry program in 2008 at 20 airports. Based on its success, CBP is preparing federal regulations to make it a permanent program. Dutch, German, American, South Korean and Mexican passengers traveling internationally now have access to the program.