© Provided by Washington Examiner The Biden administration has canceled a Trump administration plan to collect personally identifiable data, such as facial scans and DNA, from immigrants when they apply to enter the United States.
"The Department of Homeland Security has withdrawn a proposed rule that would have expanded department authorities and requirements for collecting biometrics by removing age restrictions; requiring submission of biometrics for every applicant, petitioner, sponsor, beneficiary, or other individual filing for or associated with any immigration or naturalization benefit or request unless DHS waives or exempts the biometrics requirement," DHS said in a statement Friday morning.
BIDEN ADMINISTRATION HOLDING NEARLY 25,000 MIGRANT CHILDREN
The Trump administration in September 2020 proposed expanding the collection of eye scans, voice data, and facial scans of people who seek entry. The biometric information would be used to verify people who had departed the U.S., such as by having a facial scan taken prior to boarding an international flight. The Trump rule would have allowed the government to collect personal information from young children, including facial scans and DNA, which was previously not permitted.
Congress mandated that the DHS come up with a way to track visa recipients and other entrants, who make up the largest number of new illegal immigrants every year as a result of failing to depart the country on time.
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At present, the U.S. government takes fingerprints, a photograph, and a signature from those seeking admission. The information is collected in advance and used to verify their identity when they arrive in the U.S.
Tags: News, Facial Recognition, Immigration, Joe Biden, Homeland Security, Foreign Policy, Technology, White House
Original Author: Anna Giaritelli
Original Location: Biden rescinds Trump plan to collect facial scans from immigrants