On Thursday, U. S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced that it will begin collecting biometric information from “certain” non-citizens exiting the country at the Otay Mesa crossing in San Diego, according to an agency press release. The test runs through May 2016.
This system should be well beyond the testing phase. In 1996, Congress mandated that the federal government collect biometric data for people who entered and exited the country. Nothing happened.
The 9/11 Commission reiterated the program’s importance and recommended its immediate implementation because four of the attackers overstayed their visas. Again, crickets. In 2004, Congress reiterated its commitment to instituting a system and appropriated funding for it six times.
Finally, last December, CBP announced a limited trial test of the system at Otay Mesa pedestrian crossing in San Diego. Non-citizens entering the country began providing a facial photo and an iris scan.
“Improved technology for comparing entries and exits along the land border will enhance CBP’s ability to secure the border, identify visa overstays, identify persons of interest, and improve reporting and analysis of international visitors to the U.S.,” stated the agency’s release.
Since CBP has shown its unwillingness to deal with these critical issues in any meaningful manner, this test at Otay Mesa represents a feeble attempt to fulfill a mandate that might have hindered the 9/11 plot had it been implemented when the law passed 20 years ago.
Three Presidential administrations have delayed compliance with the will of the people as represented in Congress. CBP’s test, which it calls a “limited project,” is a positive start that illustrates just how far behind this country is in securing our borders, complying with the law and protecting American citizens.
20 Comments
Hell, this useless government still hasn’t enforced the laws from IRCA in 1986, should we continue to endure these pandering lowlifes?
and added “rrfr” so that I could post and no doubles/….so it is meaningless……you see SW first you have to learn…is to look at our history and then speak….TOP LEVEL THINKING!!…remember?
SW I hope you understood the essence of what I said……after your feedback…let me see,,…….and we stick out noses in other countries’s business…..right? Cuba….Venezuela,…Central America,,, you lose in this one….BIG!!!
our gov is not organized to do it = our gov does to want to do it
town = known
I don’t why this site continues to allow you to troll and use this site as your personal play toy. You post endless meaningless posts and constantly call names. You should be banned. It’s one thing to express a different opinion, it’s another to allow someone to render these blogs unreadable for the average person coming here.
Like I said…..you need to understand two things…..first our reality and 2nd English…….
Japan is ahead of the US in implementing biometric screening at its ports of entry.
From the website Biometric Update, June 2015:
Japan’s anti-terrorism immigration control plan calls for facial recognition system
–Japan’s Ministry of Justice has drafted a new five-year government immigration control plan that calls for greater efforts by the immigration department to identify suspected terrorists, as well as the adoption of a facial recognition system for Japanese citizens, according to government sources cited in a report by The Japan News.
–Named shoreline operations, the plan is designed to prevent terrorists from entering the country.
–Immigration screenings in Japan have been using fingerprints and facial photos since 2007, which have contributed to the 5,219 people being denied entry into the country as of the end of 2014.
–The draft proposes that these fingerprint and facial authorization systems should continue to be deployed, in addition to bringing in new technology.
–The plan also recommends immediately implementing facial recognition systems at automated gates for Japanese citizens to ensure that there is a sufficient number of immigration officers to assist foreign visitors.
–Finally, the plan calls for the implementation of a new facial recognition system by the time of the Tokyo Olympics.
The terminal would read facial photo data stored on passport microchips and then compare the data with a facial photo taken by the terminal. If the two images match, the person would be granted access through the gate.
I Agree With Trump on Japan
Without America importing their cars, electronics and airplane parts they’d be an overpopulated 3rd world island. We need to get those jobs back!
How many more Americans have to die before our government does the job it is paid to do and protects the American people?
An easier, smaller and geographically and demographically ..easier country to have control over most things……..the US is a more complex country///where have you been?
You’re just the typical illegal advocate who insists everything is too “complex”, so it can’t be done. We have the technology, but we allow business, like the airlines, to not do it because they claim it’s “too expensive”. The car companies originally fought something as simple as lap seat belts back in the 50s because of “the cost”. Just like now companies say we can’t have e-verify because it will cost too much money. Never mind the fact that like a credit card, you have a SS number unique to you. The system is up and running and would cost pennies per worker to check for fraud since SS numbers already are submitted with every new hire.
and you the typical below average lazy American with low IQ incapable to handle a simple feedback because you are filled with hate and ignorance………
complex does to mean I do to want to do it….it means just that…Japan is smaller, the same people, same culture, borders easy to manage that is all I said I did not say we should not do it….you monkey.
you deserve to be treated the same way you treat and speak to others………..an extension to the Consitution something you and Secborders do not understand…..you should both hold hands…….
last, for your information everything you said is already a town fact and we know our gov does to want to do it……let me see…..do not try to understand this your brains might get lose!!hahaha!!!
BECAUSE WE ARE MORE COMPLEX — > 330M, bigger borders, different people, interests etc etc everything is harder to do even to agree on things………….that is all I meant you dead head.!!!!
you have no vision and comprehension of reality in general and unable to piece things together…..many like you in Congress and the reason we are in this mess……..that includes Secborders….who has no respect for the Pope…….and practices everything nu t be an American by judging the Pope what to do…..
do you see sec borders’ behavior same as going to other countries and stick our nose where it does not belong and now we are on trouble nobody likes us……
Like Mexico and Japan Stick Their Nose in America’s Politics?
Oh no, never that BAD. They never did like us.
I don’t know you tell me…..the ned are censored in every country..hjave you lived i Japa and in Mexico to know this?
ned = news
SW I hope you understood the essence of what I said……after your feedback…let me see,,…….and we stick out noses in other countries’s business…..right? Cuba….Venezuela,…Central America,,, you lose in this one….BIG!!! rrfr
and added “rrfr” so that I could post and no doubles/….so it is meaningless……you see SW first you have to learn…is to look at our history and then speak….TOP LEVEL THINKING!!…remember? ,,,,,,,