1/30/2007

The security program known as US-VISIT, which is used at U.S. Ports of Entry, has installed in 104 additional land border ports. The US-VISIT program uses biometric data (fingerprint scans and photographs) to verify the identity of those seeking entry to the United States. It compares the individuals to various terrorist and criminal watch lists, as well as watch lists for immigration violators. 

US-VISIT (United States Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology) had already been installed at the fifty busiest land border ports along the U.S.-Canada and U.S.-Mexico borders. 

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reports that, since January 2004, more than 44 million visitors have been processed through US-VISIT. They also report that the screening has resulted in the detection of 970 individuals with criminal and/or immigration violations. Included in this list are federal penitentiary escapees, rapists, drug traffickers, and murderers. 

Without downplaying the seriousness of the need to detect such individuals and keep them out of our country, the tiny ratio of 970 detections to 44 million visitors is noteworthy, as it reflects the legitimate motives and clear records of most people who seek to enter the United States. Perhaps such a widely-implemented, technologically-advanced system will deter criminals and those who seek to do harm in the U.S. from even attempting to enter this country, which has tremendous benefits that are far more difficult to quantify.

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