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   U.S. Begins Fingerprinting Foreign Visitors

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Topic: U.S. Begins Fingerprinting Foreign Visitors (Read 757 times)

Rhune
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U.S. Begins Fingerprinting Foreign Visitors
« on: Jan 5^th, 2004, 9:58am »

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U.S. Begins Fingerprinting Foreign Visitors
By Paul Simao

ATLANTA (Reuters) - The United States began fingerprinting and photographing visitors from most countries on Monday in a controversial program to try to prevent potential terrorists from slipping in through the borders.

The program was launched at 115 airports and 14 cruise ship ports across the country, but not yet at land borders, which account for a large part of traffic into the United States.

Tourists and business travelers on short visits from 27 mostly European nations are exempt from the new measures. Canadians and Mexicans, who fall under special immigration rules, are also exempt.

Some foreign nationals have complained of discrimination and Brazil last week began fingerprinting and photographing all arriving U.S. citizens.

Federal officials said the measures, which were ordered by Congress in response to the Sept. 11, 2001 hijacked plane attacks, would tighten security without causing any undue inconvenience to travelers.

"It is easy for travelers to use, but hard for terrorists to avoid," Department of Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge told a news conference at Atlanta's international airport shortly after the system began

Ridge greeted and shook hands with the first travelers to be processed in Atlanta under the US-Visit system.

Atlanta's airport is said by officials there to be the world's busiest passenger airport, with an average of 2,400 flights arriving and departing daily.

The new fingerprinting and photographing program is meant to identify people who have violated immigration controls, have criminal records or belong to groups listed as terrorist organizations by the United States.

At Miami International Airport, which receives a large part of passenger traffic from Latin America and the Caribbean, passengers interviewed after going through the process said they had no problem with the screening, and took no offense.

"I think it's good with everything that's going on," said Scott Murray, a Jamaican arriving at the airport. "If you have nothing to hide, it shouldn't be a problem. I wasn't offended.

"It took not even a minute, it was left and right index finger on the machine and they take a picture too."

But the Brazilian fingerprint program of U.S. visitors that began last Thursday came on the orders of a judge who angrily compared the new U.S. controls to Nazi horrors.

"I consider the act absolutely brutal, threatening human rights, violating human dignity, xenophobic and worthy of the worst horrors committed by the Nazis," said Federal Judge Julier Sebastiao da Silva in a court order to authorize the program in Brazil. (Additional reporting by Jim Loney in Miami)

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MzWings
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Re: U.S. Begins Fingerprinting Foreign Visitors
« Reply #1 on: Jan 5^th, 2004, 11:06am »

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"I think it's good with everything that's going on," said Scott Murray, a Jamaican arriving at the airport. "If you have nothing to hide, it shouldn't be a problem. I wasn't offended.

"It took not even a minute, it was left and right index finger on the machine and they take a picture too."

I totally agree with this new system.

But the Brazilian fingerprint program of U.S. visitors that began last Thursday came on the orders of a judge who angrily compared the new U.S. controls to Nazi horrors.

"I consider the act absolutely brutal,[b] threatening human rights, violating human dignity, xenophobic and worthy of the worst horrors committed by the Nazis," said Federal Judge Julier Sebastiao da Silva in a court order to authorize the program in Brazil. (Additional reporting by Jim Loney in Miami)
[/b]

:huh2:

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lakelady
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Re: U.S. Begins Fingerprinting Foreign Visitors
« Reply #2 on: Jan 5^th, 2004, 6:39pm »

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So WHAT? Brazil is freaking out. As if we give a big whoop about what they think. When was the last time they were bombed by terrorists. Let them go through what we have been through the last two years, and I might think again. Okay, what products are made in Brazil? if ya get my drift. Grin

« Last Edit: Jan 5^th, 2004, 6:50pm by lakelady »

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MzWings
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Re: U.S. Begins Fingerprinting Foreign Visitors
« Reply #3 on: Jan 5^th, 2004, 7:02pm »

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on Jan 5^th, 2004, 6:39pm, lakelady wrote:

My sentiments exactly! GMTA! Wink

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Bumper
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Re: U.S. Begins Fingerprinting Foreign Visitors
« Reply #4 on: Jan 6^th, 2004, 11:12pm »

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. . . . comparing our controls at the borders to Nazi Germany is quite a stretch.

IMHO, these updated checks and security procedures are long overdue.

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BlankWillWin
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Re: U.S. Begins Fingerprinting Foreign Visitors
« Reply #5 on: Jan 7^th, 2004, 5:59am »

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So, the terrorists will fly into Toronto, rent a car, and drive into New York. Someone want to explain to me how this makes us safer?

Eric.

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BlankWillWin
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Re: U.S. Begins Fingerprinting Foreign Visitors
« Reply #6 on: Jan 7^th, 2004, 6:04am »

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Oh, and "shoe bomber" Richard Reid, is a British citizen, and would therefore have been exempt from these checks. Do these checks REALLY increase our security?

Eric.

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Addams
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Re: U.S. Begins Fingerprinting Foreign Visitors
« Reply #7 on: Jan 7^th, 2004, 12:00pm »

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Canadian citizens working in the United States will still be subject to the fingerprinting.

The real issue is what will be done with the information that is collected. once it is determined that you don't match the database is it destroyed immediately?

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Rhune
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Re: U.S. Begins Fingerprinting Foreign Visitors
« Reply #8 on: Jan 7^th, 2004, 1:03pm »

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I would think that everyone would be kept on record in the fingerprint database that police use, in the event of a future crime is committed or a person is reported missing, a body is found and they need to identify it, etc.

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Bumper
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Re: U.S. Begins Fingerprinting Foreign Visitors
« Reply #9 on: Jan 7^th, 2004, 7:43pm »

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on Jan 7^th, 2004, 12:00pm, addams wrote:

I doubt it. Wouldn't be much of a database if we destroyed all the data.

Gatekeeper info is long overdue in my book. Our borders have been a joke much too long. I think that sooner or later, these same checks will have to be extended to the highway border crossings between our two countries addams. That's not to say that we won't welcome citizens from Canada, it is just a prudent step to take in controlling and knowing exactly who is entering our country.

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BlankWillWin
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Re: U.S. Begins Fingerprinting Foreign Visitors
« Reply #10 on: Jan 7^th, 2004, 9:00pm »

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on Jan 7^th, 2004, 1:03pm, Rhune wrote:

Wow. If that doesn't qualify as unlawful search and seizure, or something, it sure should! My fingerprints are mine, and if the police want them they can arrest me and charge me with a crime. Then when they release me, I'll sue for false imprisonment.

Eric.

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Bumper
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Re: U.S. Begins Fingerprinting Foreign Visitors
« Reply #11 on: Jan 7^th, 2004, 11:27pm »

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on Jan 7^th, 2004, 9:00pm, BlankWillWin wrote:

Calm down Eric, stop and think a minute. They are checking VISITORS to this Country, not our own citizens. I don't hardly thing that can be construed as "unlawful".

. . . .and my feeling is that . . . . if they don't want to provide identification complete with a fingerprint, well have a nice day and head right on back across the same border they just crossed!!

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BlankWillWin
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Re: U.S. Begins Fingerprinting Foreign Visitors
« Reply #12 on: Jan 8^th, 2004, 6:39pm »

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Do our Constitutionally protected rights only apply to U.S. citizens? If Addams drives down from Canada, can she be arrested without being read her Miranda rights, can she be forced to testify against herself in court? I don't think so, and I would certainly hope not! If it's wrong for the police to do it to me, it should be just as wrong for them to do it to a law-abiding citizen of Brazil or Kenya, or Iran.

Eric.

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luci
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Re: U.S. Begins Fingerprinting Foreign Visitors
« Reply #13 on: Jan 8^th, 2004, 8:10pm »

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If anyone has ever worked for a brokerage company, then you know you are fingerprinted before you begin the first day.

Brazil? What have they ever done for America?

Aside from the towns where the bridges go over the Rio Grande River, the border between Mexico and Texas is a mere line in the sand or a bit of water in the river. It isn't hard to cross over into the USA from there. The Border Patrol can't be everywhere!

Did I get into another topic here, duh Roll Eyes

well, I'm tired!

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Re: U.S. Begins Fingerprinting Foreign Visitors
« Reply #14 on: Jan 8^th, 2004, 10:46pm »

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on Jan 8^th, 2004, 6:39pm, BlankWillWin wrote:

Eric, you're talking apples and we're talking oranges.

These people that we are checking want to ENTER our country for a VISIT. There is nothing to say that we can't impose stringent requirements, which could include stasifying ourselves of exactly WHO these "guests" are and using fingerprints and photos to keep track of them. I am not concerned in the least if they are offended that we are not willing to give them free reign of our borders. I am also not concerned if they are upset that we have their photo and fingerprint on FILE. If THEY are concerned, they can stay out!

I have relatives in Canada and routinely make trips up there. If the shoe were on the other foot I would have no right to be upset if Canada wanted to know what I look like, or have a record of my fingerprint if they choose, when I visit their country. I am a guest and if I want to visit, I would have to abide by the rules that they set.

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