Holy crap...it sounds like the Homeland Security Department may actually be doing some good work, per the new border technology system, US-VISIT:

After the 2001 terrorist attacks, Congress merged federal border security agencies and mandated a speedy system that would ID and record every foreigner who enters and leaves the United States.

Homeland Security is spending $340 million implementing the technology. Another $340 million has been allocated for 2005.

Business and political leaders in border cities fought the system when it was announced, fearing it would slow traffic and deter Mexicans who have made the impoverished Texas border one of the hottest retail spots in the nation.

...

Those who've seen the new system say they no longer oppose it.

Supporters like how the scanners use data from passports and other documents to automatically complete paperwork that was before filled out by hand.

"At the very beginning we were led to believe, perhaps by the media or perhaps by our own misinformation, that this program was going to be bad for us," said Laredo Mayor Betty Flores, one of the program's loudest early critics. "From what I witnessed ... the program is going to be good for us."

A government immigration program involving technology...that actually seems to work pretty well?

Amazing.