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US Fingerprinting Visitors

Tezcatlipoca

07:57 / 08.01.04

Well, where to start? I guess with the link the news contained in which has depressed as much as it has angered me.

First we have the oxymoronic, and frankly insulting, Designated Free Speech Zones, and now this. We're all aware that America - as a national entity - is one frightened little child, but surely this is going a step too far? Not only is the fingerprinting (and photographing) of visitors on the presumption that they 'might be terrorists' insulting, but surely fingerprinting is one more way to let foreign visitors know that they are not Americans and therefore suspect? If the US principles of freedom, justice and equality end at their borders, how sincere is their belief in them?

Tezcatlipoca

08:03 / 08.01.04

Additional to the above, I've just noted this, which amuses me more than it probably should. An interesting quote from this link is "The measure does not apply to citizens of 27 mainly European nations who do not need a visa to enter the United States.", but, looky here...

sleazenation

08:18 / 08.01.04

Further - passport holders planning to visit the US under the Waiver scheme may now have to apply for a visa anywayaccording to this news item

STOATIE LIEKS CHOCOLATE MILK

09:03 / 08.01.04

And I´m going there tomorrow... before the deadline, obviously, but I´m so not looking forward to the paranoid security procedures.
Oh well, I´ll send you all a postcard from Cuba!

Although I love the fact that Brazil has now introduced the same procedure for Americans in response... go Brazil!!!

Rage

09:21 / 08.01.04

They even finger print Americans in America. Not just in jail, but when we go to get Western Union money orders. It's disgusting.

Know I wouldn't wanted to come here if I was from another country, especially not at a time like this.

w1rebaby

13:40 / 08.01.04

As mentioned before I was fingerprinted and photographed on entry. But then I am a designated corporate servant so I should expect that and be grateful they didn't want a blood sample.

This whole thing is entirely for domestic consumption. It's not going to scare any terrorists, obviously. The fact that the rest of the world thinks it's stupid and offensive is of no concern. The administration assumes that everyone is desperate to come to the US anyway so isn't going to be put off by this. (Not quite sure that one will work, but they don't care.) In fact, if it's seen as offensive by the rest of the world that's a good thing - it just proves to the US public that the rest of the world is blindly anti-American and hates freedom, doesn't it? Apart from those nations whose governments bend over (UK, anyone?)

It's the SUV of security measures - looks big and tough, is supposed to be reassuring for those inside it, but actually just makes things worse.

Cherry Bomb

17:49 / 08.01.04

Further - passport holders planning to visit the US under the Waiver scheme may now have to apply for a visa anywayaccording to this news item

And I can I just officially say, AAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRGHHHH!!!

I almost feel as if the U.S. is actually canibalizing it's own industries. It makes no sense.

Rage, why do you think I left the country?

Uatu.is.watching

23:04 / 08.01.04

When I read that the US was demanding embedded chips in the passports containing personal information like fingerprints and pictures, the paranoid in me couldn't help but wonder if they would be including RFID tags so that we can track your every move on our hallowed soil.

Yikes. Can I move in with you guys?

Linus Dunce

23:21 / 08.01.04

Yeah, sure, if you get your retina scanned by Mr Blunkett.

gornorft

08:59 / 09.01.04

I think I've made my views quite clear elsewhere in another thread, using very long sentences I might add.

I hate this. I really really REALLY hate it.

A lot.

Years ago Australia had a go at forcing us all to carry national identification cards and the initiating forces were resoundingly thrashed at the polls. Now the WORLD is having a go at much the same concept, but worse, and we're not even being asked. We are just being told that that's how it is.

We have no say. We will just do as we are told or be locked up in some remote prison for years on end without even being charged with anything. Isn't it great?

Olulabelle

10:52 / 09.01.04

From the US Embassy site: US legislation will require individuals entering the United States under the Visa Waiver Program after October 26, 2004 to carry machine-readable passports. Furthermore, passports issued by visa waiver countries on or after October 26, 2004 must contain biometric data or the traveler will need to have a visa.

On a recent visit to New York I was told by immigration that this new legislation means my 6 year old son (who currently travels under my passport) will need his very own passport in order to enter the U.S. as after October he will not be valid on mine.

If I don't get him his own passport before October, it will also need to contain biometric information or we will have to get him a Visa in order to enter the U.S. So, I won't need to have a passport which contains biometric information, or a Visa, but my six year old son (big terrorist threat that he is) will.

Utterly ridiculous.

sleazenation

11:06 / 09.01.04

The idea is that Biometric passports (that is passports containing biometric data) will be phased in as people renew their passports (which has to be done, in the UK at least, every ten years or so).

Olulabelle

11:17 / 09.01.04

Neil_ca

17:06 / 11.01.04

I know, but since my passport won't need renewing for a while it means that my son will be treated differently to me, which is just silly given his age. I don't see why they can't allow children currently travelling under a parent's passport to continue to do so.

Though I think the US is the first to unilaterally declare this as a requirement for people entering, individual passports for all children of any age were recommended by the International Civil Aviation Organization a few years back in the hopes of making international child traficking more difficult (on the basis that it's easier to fake an extra name on a passport rather than an entire passport, and without a photo of the child in the passport, how do immigration know if the kid your travelling with is really yours.) Here in Canada people renewing passports have been required to get seperate ones for kids since 2001.

I don't think your son is the victim of a crackdown on terrorism.

Tezcatlipoca

17:19 / 11.01.04

Additional to what's been said, the official website for this program makes for interesting reading, espcially the Fact Sheet, which states that the aim of the program is to:

Enhance the security of U.S. citizens and visitors
Facilitate legitimate travel and trade
Ensure the integrity of the immigration system
Safeguard the personal privacy of visitors [my italics]

As if the US customs weren't already doing enough to safeguard personal privacy...

STOATIE LIEKS CHOCOLATE MILK

20:55 / 13.01.04

Whoah... watching tons of people getting printed the other day was kind of scary. Although I (arguably more dodgy than most of the non-visa-waiver country people there) had no problem, as the US citizen I was with asked if I could just go through the US Citizens' gate with her, and they said yes, no questions asked. Kind of proves the point that it's just for show and to increase paranoia really, doesn't it?

Tezcatlipoca

06:54 / 15.01.04

Well, at least we can be sure that these measures are working, and that 'terrorists' are clearly unable to arrive or leave the US without being detected...

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