Collecting Fingerprints From International Visitors

¶ … collecting fingerprints from international visitors for homeland security. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently upgraded from collecting two fingerprints to all ten fingerprints of international visitors at Dulles Airport in Washington D.C. This use of biometrics to pinpoint terrorist and other illegal activities is a necessity in America's continuing war on terror.

Biometrics (fingerprints and a photo) are collected "from all non-U.S. citizens between the ages of 14 and 79, with some exceptions" (Press Secretary, 2007). This data is then compared with the fingerprints collected at Dulles (and in the future, nearly 300 points of entry) to identify known and unknown terrorists.

Collecting and using biometrics ensures that all international visitors will be screened and identified, weeding out terrorists and other undesirables. In addition, this practice has been proven to help solve other criminal activities, such as identity theft, and it helps all passengers move through the airports more efficiently. Michael Chertoff, director of DHS says, "Biometrics tell the story that the unknown terrorist tries to conceal, and it causes them to question whether they've ever left a print behind" (Press Secretary, 2007). Thus, collecting fingerprints can match them with any prints currently existing in FBI and many other organizations' databases, and it can help control criminal activity on many levels. Collecting biometrics gives Americans more security, but it also keeps those who are illegal from reentering the country and remaining illegally, as immigration violators are also on file in the fingerprint records.

In conclusion, collecting biometric data is essential in maintaining American safety from terrorism and other criminal activities. It has been proven to help solve crimes and keep people safer, and it keeps illegal immigrants from entering the country, so it serves a dual purpose.

Homeland Security has been collecting fingerprints from foreign visitors since 2004, and they are increasing this collection from two fingers to all ten by the end of 2008 at nearly 300 entry points in the United States. This practice is causing many bad feelings in foreign visitors, as well as violating civil rights, and many refuse to enter the United States as a result of this practice.

Collecting fingerprints of every foreign visitor is time consuming and difficult, and it cannot keep every terrorist or criminal out of America, they will simply enter through another location. It is creating a loss of tourism and tourism revenue at a time when the dollar is low and more foreign visitors should be enjoying the U.S.

Checking the fingerprints of every foreign visitor who arrives at a U.S. port of entry is time consuming, it can be very embarrassing for foreign visitors, and it casts America in a bad light. It targets foreign visitors, but does not target American citizens, who can also be criminals or terrorists. It violates human rights, as well, because everyone has a right to privacy and to maintaining their dignity.