METRO CONNECTIONS The Motor City's Air Travel Newspaper
Visitors face tighter security
by kevin bunch
ROMULUS — International visitors to Detroit Metropolitan Airport will
have to provide 10 fingerprints, up from two, in a new policy from the U.S.
Department of Homeland Security.
The U.S. Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology program, which
started in 2004, requires foreign visitors to the United States to provide
two fingerprints and a photograph — known as biometrics — for security
purposes.
But airports started to take 10 fingerprints in November.
“Biometrics have revolutionized our ability to prevent dangerous people from
entering the United States since 2004,” said Robert Mocny, U.S. VISIT
director. “Our upgrade to 10-fingerprint collection builds on our success,
enabling us to focus more attention on stopping potential security risks.”
Thus far, airports in Atlanta, Chicago, Boston, Houston, San Francisco,
Miami and Orlando, Fla., have started taking 10 fingerprints. DHS officials
want all remaining airports, seaports and border crossings to be collecting
10 prints by the end of the year.
The VISIT program checks visitors’ fingerprints against records of
criminals, known or suspected terrorists and immigration violators. By
collecting 10 prints, fingerprint-matching accuracy is increased.
“Quite simply, this change gives our officers a more accurate idea of who is
in front of them,” said Paul Morris, an executive director from the Customs
and Border Protection office.
“For legitimate visitors, the process becomes more efficient and their
identities are better protected from theft. For those who may pose a risk,
we will have greater insight into who they are.”
On an average day, nearly 1,900 international visitors pass through Detroit
Metropolitan Airport, largely from Japan, Britain, Germany, the Netherlands
and India.
