SAN DIEGO (Border Report) — With U.S. Customs and Border Protection set to launch a biometrics data gathering system, researchers in Tijuana believe the program will create longer waits for commuters.
CBP plans to launch the program on Dec. 26. It will require officers to photograph and fingerprint all non-citizens leaving or arriving in the U.S.
It will gather biometric data for those with U.S. resident status, visas, seasonal workers and even children.
José María Ramos García, a professor Colegio de la Frontera in Tijuana, fears the gathering of the biometrics will take additional time and add to further delays for thousands of people who cross the border daily, especially those in vehicles.
The researcher said he does not dispute the need for national security in both Mexico and the U.S., but he fears this may further create unnecessary “wait times at the border in both directions.”
He says inspection areas on the way out of the U.S. at ports of entry, now in place to deter illegal weapons and money movements into Mexico, will be activated to include biometrics gathering, creating more traffic as people try to get south of the border.
“This is on the United States side of the border,” he said. “This is going to create additional challenges for travelers not only at ports of entry, but airports and cruise ship terminals. Longer waits will happen.”
Immigration attorneys say the planned collection of biometric data is creating a lot of privacy concerns since it remains unclear who will supervise the data and how it will be shared.
There’s also worry the plan may be in violation of the Fourth Amendment, which protects people against unlawful search and seizures.
One lawyer in Texas recently said CBP plans on keeping the information for up to 75 years.
“All those who are not part of the SENTRI and Ready Lane programs will literally have to wait until their pictures and photographs are taken,” Ramos García said. “Imagine the holidays when so many people cross the border, this will negatively impact the flow of traffic.”
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