Visitors Face US Security Checks

05/01/2004| IslamWeb

New US security regulations are coming into force that will see most foreign visitors having their photographs taken and fingerprints checked. The rules apply to visa holders and cover all but 28 countries. Those arriving under the visa waiver programme - which includes most Europeans - are not affected. The measures replace the old special registration programme, which was said to discriminate against Muslims and people of Middle Eastern origin. Brazil has made formal complaints and started fingerprinting and photographing all US citizens arriving at its main international airports. **Instant checks*** All 115 US airports that handle international flights and 14 major seaports are covered by the programme, under which customs officials can instantly check an immigrant or visitor's criminal background. A similar programme is to be launched at 50 land border crossings by the end of next year. Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge will formally launch the programme at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in the southern state of Georgia. Called US-Visit, or US Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology, it will check an estimated 24 million foreign visitors who enter the US each year through airports or seaports on tourist, business and student visas. Inkless fingerprints will be taken and checked instantly against a national digital database for criminal backgrounds and any 'terrorist' lists. Photographs will be used to help create a database for law enforcement. The process will be repeated when the foreigners leave the country as an extra security measure, and to ensure they complied with visa limitations. The system was scheduled to begin on 1 January, but was delayed to avoid the busy holiday travel period. The visa waiver programme allows citizens from mostly European nations to visit the US for up to 90 days without visas. **PHOTO CAPTION*** Most Europeans are excluded for now. (Photo by BBC)