New Security Checks in Place at Land Crossings

Dec 1, 2004 12:00 PM

Land border crossings from Mexico at Laredo, Texas, and Douglas, Ariz., have been chosen to begin testing the Homeland Security Department's increased border security technology. The Canadian border city of Port Huron, Mich., also is participating.

The technology — which calls for fingerprinting, photographing and running checks on suspicious visitors — has been in place at U.S. airports and seaports since Jan. 5, but officials want to pinpoint any glitches before the program extends to the nation's 50 busiest land crossings by year's end, The Associated Press reports.

Digital fingerscans and photos are matched with databases to determine if visitors might be wanted for immigration problems and crimes or are on lists barring them from entering the country because of suspected terrorist ties.

The information will be stored indefinitely in a national database, but Homeland Security officials promised its use would be restricted to ensure privacy. By the end of 2005, the United States Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology program, or US-VISIT, is scheduled to be used at all 165 land border crossings.

Homeland Security is spending $340 million implementing inkless fingerprinting machines, digital cameras and computer equipment. Another $340 million has been allocated for 2005.

Jim Williams, director of US-VISIT, said Mexican citizens holding border crossing cards, or laser visas, would not be subject to the printing and photographing.

The cards allow Mexicans to enter the United States for short visits, as long as they do not travel more than 25 miles from the border in Texas, California and New Mexico; and 75 miles in Arizona.

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