Fingerprinting of foreigners stepped up

USA TODAY

Published: 12.03.2007

Foreigners coming to the United States will soon be required to have 10 fingerprints scanned as part of a new government anti-terrorist effort, the Homeland Security Department says.

The plan for Customs officers to collect more biometric information from foreigners is one phase of an upgrade to a border-security program put in place after 9/11. The program, known as US-VISIT, aims to give government agents a better idea of who is coming into the country and catch people with forged passports. The government so far has spent $1.7 billion on the program.

Foreigners were previously required to get just two of their prints scanned when they arrived at a checkpoint. Upgrading the system to 10 fingerprints will enable more thorough checking against terrorist watch lists and databases of criminals and illegal immigrants.

"Biometrics can be a game-changer," Homeland Security spokesman Russ Knocke says. "They represent what terrorists fear most - an increased likelihood of getting caught."