June 24, 2006, Washington, DC–On June 23, the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) filed a comment with the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regarding the proposed rule of collecting alien biometric data upon exit from US air and sea ports of departure.
Under DHS’s current US-VISIT program, Customs and Border Protection officers or Department of State consular offices overseas collect biometrics -digital finger scans and photographs- of non-US citizens seeking to enter the United States. These biometrics are then checked against government databases “to identify suspected terrorists, known criminals or individuals who have previously violated US immigration laws.” On April 22, the DHS issued a notice of proposed rulemaking to establish an exit program under the current US-VISIT program. The proposed rule requires commercial airlines and vessel carriers to collect non-US citizens’ biometrics before departing the US, and then submitt them to the DHS.
In its comment, ADC supported the proposed rule, so long as the NSEERS program is simultaneously terminated, and proper legal safeguards and guarantees are in place ensuring that commercial airlines and vessel carriers will not abuse the collection of biometric data.
To read ADC‘s comment, suggestions and concerns regarding the proposed rule, please click here.