The Trump administration has prepared a bill requiring migrants to scan the iris of the eye, as well as provide a voice print, DNA, and photographs for facial recognition. A former immigration officer told BuzzFeed News, «They use common language in the law to justify the massive and unprecedented collection of personal information.»
According to information obtained by BuzzFeed, the government will be allowed to request biometrics from immigrants who have received a benefit, green card or work permit at any time until they become US citizens.
The Department of Homeland Security said the revised bill would be published for public inspection. The proposed rules are intended to “improve the verification process and reduce the number of paper documents and background information required to verify identity and family relationships,” explains DHS.
“These rules remove any ambiguity associated with the use of biometrics by the Department of Homeland Security and set clear standards for how and why we collect and use this information,” Acting Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Ken Cuccinelli said in a statement.
«In addition, collection of biometric information protects against identity theft and discourages fraud.»
Andreares, deputy director of the American Civil Liberties Society, said in a statement that «collecting a massive database of genetic data will not improve security, but will only make it easier for the government to monitor the community and bring us all closer to a dystopian nightmare.»
“Trump's goal is clear: to make immigration as difficult as possible,” she added.
The draft proposal will affect USCIS applications for green cards, highly skilled workers visas, asylum and work permit documents. It would also authorize the collection of biometric data from anyone detained by DHS and in the process of being deported from the United States.
These rules will be subject to public comment and will not take effect immediately.
The draft decree notes that it should radically change the current approach of the government to the requirements for the collection of biometrics. While biometrics is now required only in certain situations, in the future biometric data will presumably always be collected, with rare exceptions.
