[Infowarrior] - New Fingerprint Requirements at Airports

[Richard Forno]

New Fingerprint Requirements at Airports

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http://www.salon.com/wire/ap/archive.html?wire=D8J4EOL00.html

By LESLIE MILLER Associated Press Writer

July 27,2006 | WASHINGTON -- U.S. residents with green cards, parolees and
some Canadians will have their fingerprints checked every time they re-enter
the U.S. by air or sea.

The new security checks announced Thursday by the Department of Homeland
Security are part of the so-called US-VISIT program, which requires
border-crossing documents to include a digital photograph and two
fingerprints. The program, which currently has 61 million people enrolled
from countries except Canada and Mexico, is being slowly phased in.

"We have a lot more steps along the way," said Bob Mocny, acting director of
the US-VISIT program.

Mocny estimates that the new requirement, which will take effect Aug. 28,
will add 1 million to 1.5 million enrollees.

The purpose of the program is to make sure that their travel documents
aren't forged and to screen out criminals.

Under US-VISIT, the U.S. government has caught 1,100 criminals at ports of
entry, Mocny said.

There are between 8 million and 12 million legal permanent residents -- or
green-card holders -- in the United States. But only a fraction of them
travel outside of the country, Mocny said.

Canadians who cross the border to shop, visit or take a holiday won't need
to enroll in the program, according to the proposed rule published in the
Federal Register.

Canadians required to enroll -- including nurses, agricultural workers,
students and religious workers -- will only have their fingerprints checked
at land ports if a Customs and Border Protection official questions the
validity of their documents, Mocny said.

Everyone who re-enters the U.S. through an airport or seaport will be
checked, he said.

The program won't apply to Mexicans coming into the U.S. with a border
crossing card.

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On the Net:

Homeland Security Department: http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/index.jsp