US Immigration Implements Biometric-based Border

scubacuda writes "The NY Times reports (free registration) that immigrations officials are putting in place a sophisticated new identification system that uses ID cards encrypted with digital photos, signatures, biographical information and fingerprints that have been issued by the State Department and the Immigration and Naturalization Service by the millions over the last five years. "With more information systems, there are more opportunities for abuse," said Marc Rotenberg, executive director of the Electronic Privacy Information Center, which is pushing the government to release more information on its biometric plans."

Comments

George Orwell award

[LinuxXPHybrid]

This year's George Orwell award is going to whoever built this system? Well, congratulation!

Foreign passports require biometrics?

[roybadami]

The most interesting (to me) comment in the article (which isn't elaborated further) is:

The legislation also requires foreign governments to use biometric technology in passports.

What if countries refuse? -- and I can't really see the rest of the world adding biometrics to their passports just becuase the US tells them to.

Being British, I don't currently require a visa for a short (up to 3 months?) visit to the US. I guess if Europe doesn't go along with these demands, I'm going to need a visa (which, presumably, will have biometrics embedded in it).

Re:Foreign passports require biometrics?

[roybadami]

Sorry about the dropped tag above.

Found another reference that might be of interest:

http://www.gunweek.com/archives/2002/hs090102.html

The countries that are members of the US visa waiver programme (allowing short stays in the US without a visa) are required to implement biometrics on all passports issued after October 2004, otherwise their citizens will be required to apply for a US visa in order to visit the US.

The article comments that the Irish are concerned about the possible damage to trade and tourism that would result from the reintroduction of visa requirements.

I'll be intrested to see how this turns out, but I think there'll be a public outcry here in the UK if there's an attempt to include biometrics on British passports.

So I guess I'll be needing a visa, then...

and on a side note,

[Anonymous Coward]

that famous American puppet-state, Australia, is doing the same thing.

New trend in America?

[nfk]

It's an interesting change in the equation involving security and freedom; prior to September 11th, measures like this and the concentration of intelligence in one big department, and even things like the patriotic acts, would have been much more impopular. I live in a country (Portugal, in Europe) where citizens get an ID card when they are around 12. That would probably be considered inadequate and an invasion of privacy in the United States, but partly driven by the fear brought by the terrorist attacks and maybe also as a window of opportunity that politicians have taken advantage of, it is happening. I wonder what the sentiments of the majority of the population are.

This isn't going to make the US

[Anonymous Coward]

any safer. Remember that the 911 terrorists had valid Saudi (and other) papers. This scheme would not have saved any lives had it been implemented before 911.

It smells like pork barrel to me.

Re:This isn't going to make the US

[KingJoshi]

This doesn't solve any problem but it can be part of the solution.

There are over 10 million illegal aliens in the U.S. Most of them are overstays. The government needs to check on foreigners every now and then to see if they're still legal. They didn't use to and still dont, that's why you have so many now. If they don't, the people will find a way to survive here illegally.

So what can the government do to/for the 10 million aliens? Many of which are hard working individuals that pay taxes. If the govenment gives Amnesty, then that only encourages more people to overstay or cross the border illegally.

Also, as long as there is that great a economic disparity between Mexico and the United States, Mexicans will continue to find ways to come here. Unless the US puts up a wall, they'll keep sneaking in. There were talks of giving Mexicans identification cards so they could work, open bank accounts, etc. in the U.S. Talks were progressing well until 9-11. President Vicente Fox and the Mexicans are happy with Bush right now.

First, the government should issue these cards to all foreigners and keep a tab on them. They've put the laws in the books, we'll see how well they enforce it. They also need to cooperate with Mexico. The IRS, INS and FBI need to combine databases properly. They can check for terrorists, watch flow of money, make sure to illegals are working, etc. Then, after a few years with better situation in the border of Mexico and having the foreigner issue better handled, they should give amnesty to the illegal aliens already here that haven't committed felonies. Give them proper papers to start their process of becoming permanent residents.

Unfortunately, that'll still be too late for me. I still find it odd that though I've been here 17 years (age 23) and I can't get my legal status fixed while some lucky bastard can win a lottery and get a green card to the U.S. The final thing they need to do is clarify the laws so that people can know how to stay in-status and all that. I've gone to several immigration lawyers and specialists and that disagree or aren't sure about things.

Re:On a lighter note...

[Pharmboy]

During a trip to an INS regional office, I was briefly shown the green card printing machine. (The cards aren't green and they look similar to a drivers licence.)

Taped to the window was a very official looking green card for a Mrs. Janet Reno.

So the system is for aliens not from this planet, too?

A new target for distributed computing

[supersat]

From reading the article, it appears that the information on the card isn't stored in a central database, but is instead stored directly on the card in an encrypted form. Imagine the chaos if the encryption algorithm and key were discovered. Free entry for everyone!

UK got there first

[panurge]

The UK has been using biometrics for immigration controls for many years. Immigration uses an advanced system known as "skin color recognition".

You're white - welcome to Britain!

Good.

[d_engberg]

National borders have used identification credentials (passports) with a second-factor biometric (photographs) for decades. The difference is that the old biometric was analog, and was performed manually by a customs agent, and the new one is digital.

The slashdot crowd should get up in arms about places where biometrics are used where governments/corporations have no right or requirement of knowing exactly who you are. Disneyland shouldn't need my fingerprint to sell me a ride on Magic Mountain.

Border crossings are a case where the governments absolutely SHOULD know exactly who you are. That's the entire point of something like a passport, and a second or third authentication factor will only help make this identification more accurate.

This is a completely separate issue from whether those resulting biometrics should be stored in a linked database that is accessible for law enforcement. This should be addressed through legislation, or biometrics should be chosen that would not directly help in law enforcement (e.g. iris scans, hand geometry, etc.).