US-VISIT expands to include more biometric information
The current US-VISIT’s two-fingerprint arrival system is used in 115 airports, 15 seaports and 154 land border checks; DHS plans to expand its ten-digit program program
US-VISIT program is being expanded from its current two-digit identification to include more biometric information. The new, expanded project wil be piloted in ten airports. In addition to moving from two- to ten-finger identification, border checks may also soon include other biometric data such as facial recognition and eye retina scans. The plan was unveiled by P. T. Wright, operations director for DHS’s US-VISIT Program. The Washington Post’s Constant Brand reports that Wright discussed the expansion program with journalists while visiting the American embassy in Brussels on Monday. DHS is currently moving from collecting two fingerprints, digital and inkless, to collecting ten fingerprints from foreign travelers going to the United States.
Wright was in Brussels to explain the new system to EU officials. Many EU member states are also members of the U.S. Visa Waiver Program, and visitors from all these countries will be included in the expanded program. Airports selected for the pilot project include Boston Logan International, Chicago’s O’Hare, George Bush Houston Intercontinental, Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International, Miami International, John F. Kennedy International, Orlando International, San Francisco International, and Washington Dulles International.
Wright said that the current two-fingerprint arrival system is being used in 115 airports, 15 seaports and 154 land border checks. About 100 million fingerprints have been collected so far, and more than 34,000 people whose names showed up on U.S. watch lists were denied entry.
