The death rate from terrorism has fallen too low to justify continued vigilance checking people entering the country.

"INS managers have reverted back to pre-9/11 attitudes," said Ignatius Gentile, president of the National Immigration and Naturalization Service Council, the union of INS workers. "Managers are demanding faster passenger processing rates, instructing employees to cut corners."

The Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry Reform Act, signed by President Bush on May 14, 2002, lifted the 45-minute limit for INS inspectors to process passengers entering the U.S. from incoming international flights.

My forecast: increasing laxness until the next big terrorist attack.