Foreign visitors are required to give ten fingerprints instead of two at the Washington Dulles International Airport as the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is trying to enhance security and fingerprint matching accuracy, said a Monday statement
"Anyone who's watched the news or seen crimes solved on television shows can appreciate the power of biometrics," said Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. "They help the legitimate traveler proceed more quickly while protecting their identity and enable our frontline personnel to focus even greater attention on potential security risks. 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."
According to the new measure, all non-U.S. citizens between 14 to 79 are required to leave their digital fingerprints and a photograph when they apply for visas or arrive at U.S. ports of entry.
The data are checked against a watch list of criminals, known or suspected terrorists, and people who have violated the tough immigration laws in the U.S..
"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," Chertoff said.
Dulles is the first port of entry requiring this but nine others with begin implementing these new measures within the next few months and they are Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport; Boston Logan International Airport; Chicago O'Hare International Airport; San Francisco International Airport; George Bush Houston Intercontinental Airport; Miami International Airport; Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport; Orlando International Airport; and New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport.
The remaining 278 ports will begin the process by the end of 2008.
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