Immigration's computer system emerging from 'stone age'.

• Position: SECURITY BEAT: Homeland Defense Briefs

Non-Mexican illegal immigrants nabbed at the border spend about 30 days in detention, but Department of Homeland Security officials hope to whittle that time in half with more efficient computer programs.

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DHS' Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency is in the process of acquiring new computer systems that will allow it to process immigrants within 15 days, said John Torres, director of the office of detention and removal at ICE. "We're moving from the stone ages to modern technology."

The updated case management software will replace a 25 year-old disk operating system, Torres explained at a National Defense Industrial Association homeland security conference. The outdated system required personnel to obtain specific design code from the contractor, which significantly slowed investigations.

The software will provide real-time information and situational awareness to allow personnel to locate immigrants in custody, as well as ICE assets...