According to an analysis done by the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS), there’s a high probability biometric data, like iris scans, fingerprints or other inherent biological data, will be taken of all visitors to the United States upon their departure from the country. According to the study, the sentiment of the Senate regarding immigration reform has changed considerably over the last 12 months, especially since passing the first of eight eyebrow-raising statutes that crystallize such an idea.

The actual implementation of the proposed “biometric exit system” has a high probability of coming to fruition. There are myriad reasons for this: new influencers with fresh agendas in positions of authority, the development of new technology, lowered costs, and a mounting comfort level of the general public with all things biometric.

The CIS report points to 10 pivotal reasons biometric exit systems will make headway this year. They include:

  • Hot interest from Congress. Congressional leaders are eager to see new developments in this area, given their attitudes toward foreign visitation as a whole.
  • DHS Secretary Napolitano, an adamant opponent of a biometric exit system, is out of office.
  • The CBP now holds implementation authority of an exit system, and all signs point toward their inclination of its institution.
  • The Senate Judiciary Committee Markup of S.744 examined two amendments that apply to biometric exits (they passed one of the two).
  • During the Confirmation Hearing of DHS Secretary Nominee Jeh Johnson, many questions were posed that directly related to a biometric entry/exit system. They’re screening for someone who knows the ropes.
  • The Strengthen and Fortify Enforcement (SAFE) Act by the House Judiciary Committee included thorough information regarding biometric exits.
  • House Homeland Security invested considerable time and effort on HR 3141, also known as “The Biometric Exit Improvement Act of 2013.”
  • Implementing a biometric exit system is increasingly not only cost-effective, but also feasible on a large scale.
  • The guinea pig tests are over. More than 17 other nations have implemented successful entry/exit systems without major issues.

The author of the report, Janice Kephart, was both a 9/11 Commission counsel member as well as a security fellow for the Center. She commented that between the September 11 hijackers and the Boston Marathon bombing, it was easy for offenders to skirt the named-based immigration exit system that had obvious hit-or-miss success.

The powerlessness of law enforcement to know who is in the US for the purposes of security and immigration makes the need for a biometric entry-exit system abundantly clear.

To learn about Pivot International’s award-winning biometric product design and development services, contact us today at 877-206-5001.