Finger Prints in January

[Dean Hall]

Article Copied from US INFO.State.GOV

 

 

New Entry-Exit System for Visitors to U.S. Will Be Fast and Effective

 

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) demonstrated new procedures that will require most visitors traveling on visas to the United States to have two fingerprints scanned by an inkless device and a digital photograph taken by immigration officials upon entry at U.S. air and seaports starting January 5, 2004.

 

The procedures, developed in response to a congressional mandate, are part of the US-VISIT (United States Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology) -- an automated entry/exit system -- and will be in place at 115 airports and 14 major seaports in early 2004. The enhancements to the immigration process will be phased in at U.S. land borders throughout 2005 and 2006.

 

 

 

 

"It will not add any significant processing time to the current process," said Williams. Enhanced security procedures, he said, may add "only seconds" to the overall processing time.

 

Hutchinson added that the data obtained is securely stored as part of the visitor's travel record and that the information is made available only to authorized officials and selected law enforcement agencies responsible for ensuring the safety and security of U.S. citizens and foreign visitors.

 

Under US-VISIT, many of the procedures upon entry and exit to the United States will remain unchanged, said Hutchinson. Upon entry, he said, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers will continue to review travel documents, such as a visa and passport, and ask questions about the visitor's stay in the U.S.

 

But now when an immigration official electronically scans the visa in the visitor's passport, the photo and biographic data collected during the visa application interview will become available on the official's computer. The visitor will then be asked to put one and then the other index finger on a glass plate that will electronically capture two fingerprints. The fingerprints will be run through a database to ensure the visitor is eligible to enter the United States. Visitors also will be asked to look into a camera and their picture will be taken. The photo can be taken while fingerprinting is in process.

 

With US-VISIT, upon exit from the United States travelers will see automated, self-service kiosks at the international departure areas, where visitors with visas will be asked to scan their travel documents electronically and repeat the fingerprinting process on the inkless device. DHS officials said this process will verify the visitor's identity and departure and will confirm compliance with U.S. immigration policy. The exit confirmation will be added to the visitor's travel records to demonstrate compliance and record the individual's status for future visits to the United States.

 

"All of these entry and exit procedures address our critical need for tighter security and our commitment to expedite travel for the millions of legitimate visitors we welcome each year to conduct business, learn, see family or tour the country," said Hutchinson.

 

"The U.S. wants to continue to be a welcoming nation," he said.

 

According to a DHS brochure that describes US-VISIT procedures, "The United States of America is still a nation where diversity is celebrated and people from all over the world are welcome. Today we -- like most other countries -- are working to keep our borders secure while we maintain the freedom to exchange ideas, keep businesses thriving, and enrich lives all over the world."

 

For more information about the US-VISIT program, visit www.dhs.gov/us-visit.

[keelec]

"The U.S. wants to continue to be a welcoming nation," he said.

 

According to a DHS brochure that describes US-VISIT procedures, "The United States of America is still a nation where diversity is celebrated and people from all over the world are welcome. Today we [...] are working to keep our borders secure while we maintain the freedom to exchange ideas, keep businesses thriving, and enrich lives all over the world."

 

For more information about the US-VISIT program, visit www.dhs.gov/us-visit.

Hmmm,

 

I have to think about that one a little.

 

I can hardly think of the USA as a "Welcoming Nation" as we treat the wives, fiancees and children of American Citizens as lepers

 

---- Clifford -----

[keelec]

Sometimes I think of fingerprinting as being repressive. Yet, perhaps it is past time for us to start having better tracking of the individuals that cross our borders.

 

ID, Drivers Licenses, and everything else is too easy to fake. Fingerprints are a little harder to fake.

 

Hmm, I wonder how hard it is to fake a US Passport, and get past all of the electronic scans? The next step, obviously, would be to fingerprint both US Citizens and foreigners and make the passport photo database available to the border INS checks to help assure everyone is presenting the proper ID at the border.

 

How quickly will we approach a society where every citizen will be fingerprinted & DNA Sampled?

[Mick]

Sometimes I think of fingerprinting as being repressive.  Yet, perhaps it is past time for us to start having better tracking of the individuals that cross our borders.

 

ID, Drivers Licenses, and everything else is too easy to fake.  Fingerprints are a little harder to fake.

 

Hmm, I wonder how hard it is to fake a US Passport, and get past all of the electronic scans?  The next step, obviously, would be to fingerprint both US Citizens and foreigners and make the passport photo database available to the border INS checks to help assure everyone is presenting the proper ID at the border.

 

How quickly will we approach a society where every citizen will be fingerprinted & DNA Sampled?

The logical next step is tatoos. That has been done before with success. Or, how about implanting chips at birth?

Give Ashcroft and his cronies four more years and you just might see it Don.