US strengthens port security in southern California

US Homeland Security Department said Friday that beginning today, foreign visitors departing from the San Pedro and Long Beach ports in southern California are required provide their finger scans and other information.

Visitors must follow new checkout procedures before departing on their ship. They will be asked to provide their two index fingers cans and hold for a digital photo as part of a pilot program to test and evaluate an automated biometric exit process, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

The US-VISIT security procedures apply to all visitors -- with limited exemptions -- entering the United States. Most visitors experience the biometric procedures -- a digital, inkless finger scan and digital photograph -- upon entry to the US.

The exit procedure requires foreign visitors departing the US to check out of the country at exit stations located within the seaport. Similar to the entry process at airports or seaports, their travel documents will be read, their two index fingers will be scanned at the exit station, their digital picture will be taken,and they will receive a printed receipt that verifies that they have checked out.US Customs and Border Protection officers are expected provide foreign visitors with a card explaining the exit process when they arrive in the US at one of the airports or seaports participating in the pilot.

US-VISIT entry procedures are currently in place at 115 airports,15 seaports and in the secondary inspection areas of the 50 busiest land ports of entry across the US.

By the end of the year, US-VISIT entry procedures will be implemented in the secondary inspection areas of all remaining land ports of entry, according to DHS.

To date, more than 23 million foreign visitors have been processed through US-VISIT, and more than 500 criminals or immigration violators have been denied admission to the US because of the program, DHS officials said.