US launches program of fingerprinting, photographing foreign visitors

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, January 06, 2004

US launches program of fingerprinting, photographing foreign visitors

The United States launched a new program aimed at enhancing border security on Monday, fingerprinting and photographing visitors from most countries.

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The United States launched a new program aimed at enhancing border security on Monday, fingerprinting and photographing visitors from most countries.

The new entry procedures, or US-VISIT, took effect at 115 airports and cruise ship terminals at 14 seaports. They are not yet effective at land borders.

"Today marks the beginning of a new chapter in our government's commitment to securing our nation while upholding America's ideals about freedom of travel and the spirit of welcoming foreigner visitors," said Tom Ridge, secretary of the Department of HomelandSecurity, while officially launching the program at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Georgia.

US-VISIT requires that most foreign visitors traveling to the United States on a visa have their two index fingers scanned and adigital photograph taken to verify their identity at the port of entry.

Homeland security and law enforcement officials will use the information to check instantly against the national digital database for criminal backgrounds and any terrorist lists.

The Homeland Security Department said in a statement that by using biometrics technologies, the program expedites processing at borders while enhancing security. "It is easy for travelers to use, but hard for terrorists to avoid," Ridge said.

Authorities have turned up 21 people on the FBI's criminal watch list for such crimes as drug offenses, rape and visa fraud, since a test of the program started on Nov. 17 at Hartsfield-Jackson, Ridge said.

The system will gradually replace a controversial paper-based system effective since the Sept. 11 attacks.

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