Department of Homeland Security
to execute 400,000 background checks on port workers

Bay City News Service

April 25, 2006

Name-based background checks for some 400,000 longshoremen and maritime employees of port facility owners and operators will be conducted in the coming months as part of the Department of Homeland Security's new, nationwide biometric-based Transportation Worker Identification Credential program, department Secretary Michael Chertoff announced today.

The U.S. Coast Guard will gather basic identifying information for the new required checks and workers' names will be checked against terrorist watch lists provided by the department's

Terrorist Screening Center.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement will also conduct checks to ensure workers are able to legally work in the U.S.
The checks won't initially include the full criminal background check that will eventually become part of the TWIC system being unrolled this year, according to the department.

But ultimately all port employees will require a TWIC in order to have free access to secure areas.

The Department of Homeland Security is currently working on finding a contractor to assist with TWIC enrollment.

"We certainly think this is an excellent step in the right direction" and look forward to the implementation of the new, comprehensive security screening system, Port of Oakland spokeswoman Marilyn Sandifer said today.

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