Since the idea first officially came about in 1981 and was legally mandated by the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act in 1996, tracking non-United States citizens through an automated entry and exit system as they come to and leave the country has gained an important position in the continued effort to secure national borders and stem unauthorized immigration.
But in the years after that first legal mandate, the implementation of a completely biometric automated entry-exit system has been difficult. Despite a number of mandates from the legislature and belief in the security such a system would bring, it just hasn’t happened.
But in the years after that first legal mandate, the implementation of a completely biometric automated entry-exit system has been difficult. Despite a number of mandates from the legislature and belief in the security such a system would bring, it just hasn’t happened.
Fingerprints are commonly used for biometric information. (Photo via Wikimedia user Frettie)
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That is not to say there isn’t any tracking done on the border and at other ports of entry across the country. A significant system is currently in place that collects biometric information from most non-citizens that enter the country. But the fact still remains that after many years of pilots and trials, the Department of Homeland Security has yet to solidify a complete system and exit-tracking capabilities are still far from completion.
Even more, the issue does not look like it will go away or be answered anytime soon. “The inspections process and entry-exit system continue to be perennial issues for Congress and a number of questions persist,” the Congressional Research Service (CRS) claimed in its most recent review of immigration inspection at ports of entry in January. “Moreover, the scope of illegal migration through ports of entry, and how Congress and DHS can minimize such flows without unduly slowing legal travel continue to challenge policymakers and agency officials.” |
With the attention given to immigration issues in current political campaigns, as well as increased security concerns after the November terrorist attack in Paris, the call for a biometric entry and exit system is only likely to grow the longer a complete system is not in place.
But even with the increased attention, recent cost analysis and realistic looks at current technological limitations have led some officials to question the continued push for a completely biometric system.
But even with the increased attention, recent cost analysis and realistic looks at current technological limitations have led some officials to question the continued push for a completely biometric system.
The Current System
In 2013, close to 362 million citizen and non-citizen travelers entered the U.S., according to the CRS. About 102 million were air passengers and crew, 18 million sea passengers and crew and another 242 million were land travelers.
With such a high volume of visitors, there are obvious security concerns that DHS deems important to monitor. With the Pew Research Center reporting that 40 percent of unauthorized immigrants living in the U.S. have overstayed their authorized length of time to be in country, there is a legitimate immigration concern as well.
With such a high volume of visitors, there are obvious security concerns that DHS deems important to monitor. With the Pew Research Center reporting that 40 percent of unauthorized immigrants living in the U.S. have overstayed their authorized length of time to be in country, there is a legitimate immigration concern as well.
Currently, the collection of biometric information like fingerprints, facial and retinal scans as travelers and immigrants enter and exit the country is viewed as a reliable and secure system for stopping any criminal or terrorist threat from entering the country, as well as verifying visas and the authorized travel of immigrants. Because these personal traits are so unique, it is a form of identification that is growing in popularity for security in technology.
The Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) reports that Customs and Border Protection (CBP) screens all entering travelers and nearly all non-citizens entering at air and sea ports are subject to ten-fingerprint biometric enrollment. The CBP also collects biometric information from almost all foreigners who are not Canadian or Mexican citizens. When visitors leave, much less is being tracked. Biographic information is collected from non-citizens leaving air and sea ports of entry through their carrier companies. |
On the northern border, Canadian authorities exchange data with U.S. border authorities as they collect information from those entering their ports. Data exchange is also under consideration with Mexican authorities at the southern border, though there are a number of infrastructural issues that challenge the process.
Except for a few pilot programs over the last few years, biometric data is not collected for travelers leaving the country, whether it's by land, sea or air.
Current infrastructure, especially at land ports, was not built to process the large amount of traffic that leaves the country. While the BPC claims that affective exit collection systems are within reach at air and sea ports, it is unlikely that many land ports would have the space or the ability to facilitate the expansion of their exit collection process to mirror the entry system. Any effort to successfully integrate the system is, they claim, “a long way off.”
Except for a few pilot programs over the last few years, biometric data is not collected for travelers leaving the country, whether it's by land, sea or air.
Current infrastructure, especially at land ports, was not built to process the large amount of traffic that leaves the country. While the BPC claims that affective exit collection systems are within reach at air and sea ports, it is unlikely that many land ports would have the space or the ability to facilitate the expansion of their exit collection process to mirror the entry system. Any effort to successfully integrate the system is, they claim, “a long way off.”
Even with limited capabilities, however, DHS maintains more than a dozen databases built from recording entry and exit data, both biographic and biometric. Chief among them in terms of security and immigration is the Automated Biometric Identification System (IDENT) and the Arrival and Departure Information System (ADIS), which is the main database DHS uses in attempting to identify overstays.
ADIS is made up of biographic arrival and departure information, as well as Fingerprint Identification Numbers, and contains records on more than 280 million foreign travelers. IDENT, which contains biometric fingerprint and photograph data, held 161 million unique records in 2013, up from 95 million in 2008.
These systems continue to be integrated with other critical governmental and law enforcement databases as well. In 2010, DHS integrated IDENT with the FBI’s national fingerprint and criminal history system, which was ultimately deployed to all CBP and Border Patrol locations for enforcement use.
ADIS is made up of biographic arrival and departure information, as well as Fingerprint Identification Numbers, and contains records on more than 280 million foreign travelers. IDENT, which contains biometric fingerprint and photograph data, held 161 million unique records in 2013, up from 95 million in 2008.
These systems continue to be integrated with other critical governmental and law enforcement databases as well. In 2010, DHS integrated IDENT with the FBI’s national fingerprint and criminal history system, which was ultimately deployed to all CBP and Border Patrol locations for enforcement use.
Still, the call to expand these databases and the ability to record biometric information remains.
The Challenge
The immigration reform bill S.744 passed by the Senate includes the implication of biometric measures, as well as 2015’s H.R. 399, which would create a six-month pilot biometric exit system and require a complete entry and exit system at all ports of entry within five years of becoming law.
The biggest challenge to obtaining these goals with a completed biometric entry and exit system is space and processing time. As stated before, infrastructure at airports and border crossing stations were not built to screen such a large volume of people and expansion to fit new systems would be difficult.
While there are several strategies to accomplish these goals, a completed entry and exit system will also be weighed against the challenges of efficiently screening visitors in a way that avoids significant impact on commerce and travel, which is the main responsibility of DHS. International tourists spent more than $180 billion in the U.S., according to the BPC. Bloomberg Business reports that delays are already costly, with congested traffic at the U.S.-Mexico border costing the economy $7.8 billion in 2011. The CBP already needs 3,811 additional officers as well, according to BPC reports.
The biggest challenge to obtaining these goals with a completed biometric entry and exit system is space and processing time. As stated before, infrastructure at airports and border crossing stations were not built to screen such a large volume of people and expansion to fit new systems would be difficult.
While there are several strategies to accomplish these goals, a completed entry and exit system will also be weighed against the challenges of efficiently screening visitors in a way that avoids significant impact on commerce and travel, which is the main responsibility of DHS. International tourists spent more than $180 billion in the U.S., according to the BPC. Bloomberg Business reports that delays are already costly, with congested traffic at the U.S.-Mexico border costing the economy $7.8 billion in 2011. The CBP already needs 3,811 additional officers as well, according to BPC reports.
Border crossing stations, like the San Ysidro Border Inspection Station, are filled with traffic, making any additional delays costly. (Photo by Phil Konstantin)
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The cost to build these systems also presents a major challenge. At airports alone, the CRS reported that projected funding requirements would be about $3 billion for an airport exit system. With land ports thrown in, that figure jumps to more than $7 billion for a complete biometric exit system, according to an investigation by the Los Angeles Times.
One final challenge that has received less attention is the security risk storing large amounts of personal information. As biometrics become more popular security features on everyday items, like the fingerprint feature on the latest iPhones, these databases could be targeted by cyber criminals and identity thieves. Over the summer, hackers stole 5.6 million fingerprints from Defense Department personnel and other government employees in a data breach. Arizona State University data systems and security professor Dr. Gail-Joon Ahn believes that, even though there isn't a high criminal demand right now, one could easily develop as the use of information like fingerprints for security systems increase. |
“Let’s say that in the future all our systems are using fingerprints for security,” Ahn said. “If that is the case, than this information [in biometric databases] is a gold mine.”
Even though government agencies use the best security practices they can to keep these databases safe, hackers constantly attack systems to find soft spots that will open a breach. As Ahn claimed, "A single human error can create a hole."
Even though government agencies use the best security practices they can to keep these databases safe, hackers constantly attack systems to find soft spots that will open a breach. As Ahn claimed, "A single human error can create a hole."
These challenges holding back a complete biometric entry and exit system for customs and immigration tracking has, as the Los Angeles Times reports, caused a rift between politicians and DHS officials. With continued mandates and deadlines to finish the biometric exit system, it's clear that is the direction Washington wants to go. But other options might work just as well, if not better, at obtaining the information needed to monitor travelers entering and leaving to the country.
As the BPC reports, however, things like data sharing with both Mexico and Canada, trusted traveler programs and the continued collection of biographic information offer cheaper alternatives that could work just as well in the near future as better biometric technologies are developed. When it comes to immigration, a biometric exit system would do little to help find individuals who overstay their authorized amount of time in the country. It could even keep those looking to return to their home country permanently from doing so in fear that they might be arrested as they are processed at the border. As for security, any potential threat could only be tracked if they were to leave through an exit system and would already be outside the country.
Still, with continued advancements in technology and the ease and accuracy such a system promises, a complete biometric system is likely to stay as the long-term goal until a system is completed.
As the BPC reports, however, things like data sharing with both Mexico and Canada, trusted traveler programs and the continued collection of biographic information offer cheaper alternatives that could work just as well in the near future as better biometric technologies are developed. When it comes to immigration, a biometric exit system would do little to help find individuals who overstay their authorized amount of time in the country. It could even keep those looking to return to their home country permanently from doing so in fear that they might be arrested as they are processed at the border. As for security, any potential threat could only be tracked if they were to leave through an exit system and would already be outside the country.
Still, with continued advancements in technology and the ease and accuracy such a system promises, a complete biometric system is likely to stay as the long-term goal until a system is completed.