The Department of Homeland Security plans to replace the current two-fingerprint scanners with new 10‑fingerprint scanners at all U.S. ports of entry over the next year.
On November 29, 2007, Homeland Security began the initial transition at Washington Dulles International Airport. In early 2008, nine U.S. airports will also collect additional fingerprints from international visitors. They include:
- Boston Logan International Airport (Boston, Mass.)
- Chicago O’Hare International Airport (Chicago, Ill.)
- Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (Detroit, Mich.)
- Hartsfield‑Jackson Atlanta International Airport (Atlanta, Ga.)
- George Bush Houston Intercontinental Airport (Houston, Texas)
- Miami International Airport (Miami, Fla.)
- John F. Kennedy International Airport (New York, N.Y.)
- Orlando International Airport (Orlando, Fla.)
- San Francisco International Airport. (San Francisco, Calif.)
The Department of State currently uses 10‑fingerprint scanners at most of its visa‑issuing posts and will complete deployment worldwide by the end of 2007.
The transition from collecting two digital fingerprints to collecting 10 fingerprints from international visitors is one of the department’s top priorities because it furthers the department's ability to keep dangerous people out of the United States, while making legitimate travel more efficient.
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I think this is a great idea!
I’m sure there will be much outrage about this from international travelers.
But again, so what?
U.S. travelers go through all types of hassles entering and leaving other countries.
Let them be “unglued.”
Let’s hope the systems are tested and the officials manning them are proficient in how to use them.
Is that too much to ask?
Your thoughts?
