Homeland Security to Invade the Privacy of U.S. Citizens in its Assault on Immigrants

As the 2020 elections approach, Donald Trump is continuing his attack on immigrants by demonizing and intimating Americans who want to help immigrants.  The Trump administration is now proposing to collect DNA data from not only detained migrants but U.S. citizens and any others who sponsor immigrants. The proposal looks to expand Homeland Security's ability to collect DNA, eye scans, voice prints, and palm prints, as outlined n the proposed rule published in the Federal Register.

The proposal intends to “provide DHS with the flexibility to change its biometrics collection practices and policies.”  At the time of the proposal’s initial announcement, DHS officials expressed that the move would allow the department to utilize new technologies as they become more available, CNN reported.  The proposal states that “any applicant, petitioner, sponsor, beneficiary, or individual filing or associated with an immigration benefit or request, including United States citizens, must appear for biometrics collection without regard to age unless DHS waives or exempts the biometrics requirement.”

It also proposes that regardless of age, anyone arrested or in the “care” of the department be subject to DNA collection.  The proposal directly affects applications taken by USCIS, which processes green cards and visas for family members, workers, refugees, and asylum seekers.  By collecting biometric data from those who wish to sponsor immigrants the administration claims it can verify whether the genetic relationship of the individuals is legitimate in addition to checking criminal histories. 

This isn’t the first time the Trump administration has attempted to collect DNA from immigrants and those supporting them.  Last year the administration argued it had the ability to collect DNA from migrants detained by authorities under a 2005 law, Reuters reported.  In May, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) began a pilot project to collect DNA samples from undocumented immigrants who were arrested and in February it began fingerprinting 14 and older unaccompanied migrant children in immigration shelters.  The agency claimed both moves would better protect both migrants and the country from what it called “fraud” and help solve cold cases. These prints were collected and shared with law enforcement agencies.

The overreaching proposal was first reported by BuzzFeed News and has received great criticism since.  "Collecting a massive database of genetic blueprints won't make us safer—it will simply make it easier for the government to surveil and target our communities and to bring us closer to a dystopian nightmare," Andrea Flores, deputy director of immigration policy for the American Civil Liberties Union, said.  “Trump’s goal is clear: to shut down the legal immigration system and make immigration as difficult as possible," she added.

While it is unclear whether the administration will finalize the rule prior to the election, the proposal calls for public comments until October 13.  Despite Trump’s consistent xenophobic policies and speech, recent polling research has found that Americans have become more welcoming of immigrants and refugees since 2016, Daily Kos reported.  As more Americans see through Trump’s lies and blatant hate for immigrants, we can only hope America makes the right decision this November.