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05/28/2009 Entry: "DHS Begins Test of Biometric Exit Procedures at Two U.S. Airports"
DHS announced that it began collecting biometric fingerprints from non-U.S. citizens departing the U.S. from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport on 5/28/09 as part of a pilot program.
WASHINGTON, D.C.-The U.S. Department of Homeland
Security (DHS) today began collecting biometrics-digital
fingerprints-from non-U.S. citizens departing the United States
as part of a pilot program at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta
International Airport and Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County
Airport. Since 2004, biometrics have helped DHS prevent the
use of fraudulent documents, protect visitors from identity theft
and stop thousands of criminals and immigration violators from
entering the United States.
"Collecting biometrics allows us to determine faster and more
accurately whether non-U.S. citizens have departed the United
States on time or remained in the country illegally," said DHS
Secretary Janet Napolitano. "The pilot programs in Atlanta and
Detroit will help us determine and develop standard procedures
for use at airports across the country to expedite legitimate
travel and enhance our nation's security."
Non-U.S. citizens leaving the United States from Detroit and
Atlanta airports should expect to have their biometrics collected
before boarding their flights. U.S. Customs and Border
Protection (CBP) officers will collect biometrics at the boarding
gate from non-U.S. citizens departing from Detroit; U.S.
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers will
collect biometrics at security checkpoints from non-U.S. citizens
departing from Atlanta. These pilots are expected to continue
through early July.
US-VISIT plans to begin implementing new biometric exit
procedures based on these pilots for non-U.S. citizens departing
the United States by air within the next year.
Non-U.S. citizens departing the United States from all other
ports of entry will continue to follow current exit procedures,
which require travelers to return their paper Form I-94 (Arrival-
Departure Record) or Form I-94W (for Visa Waiver Program
travelers) to an airline or ship representative.
Since 2004, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) and U.S.
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) have collected biometrics
from most non-U.S. citizens between the ages of 14 and 79,
with some exceptions, when they apply for visas or arrive at
U.S. ports of entry. US-VISIT has simultaneously worked to
create a congressionally mandated automated biometric exit
capability, which these pilots will test.
US-VISIT provides biometric identification services to federal,
state and local agencies. In collaboration with CBP and TSA, it
is leading the testing and deployment efforts for biometric exit
procedures.
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