US to collect more data on non-citizens
27 May 2009
Beginning this week, the United States will begin a pilot program at some airports to collect biometric information from non-citizens who are leaving the country.
The initiative will be another post 9/11 policy to monitor and identify all visitors to and from the United States.
Since 2004, the United States has collected fingerprints and other physical identifiers from non-citizens applying for visas and arriving at US ports of entry.
There has been much less screening when people leave the US with, in some cases, no passport control.
From this week, in addition to having their passports scanned, some departing non-US citizens will also be required to place a finger over a scanner.
The resulting prints will be compared with fingerprints given when the individuals applied for their US visa.
US authorities are hoping the new methods will stop passports or visas being used by anybody else and halt a black market trade in millions of lost or stolen passports.
Source
US to collect more data on non-citizens
Moderator: Balou
