DHS Proposal Would Expand Biometrics Collection And Use For Immigration Enforcement

On September 11, 2020, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) proposed a regulation that focuses on the expansion of the collection and use of biometric data in the enforcement and administration of immigration laws. The proposed rule would subject foreign nationals to periodic biometrics collection and continuous vetting after they enter the United States and until they become U.S. citizens. The stated focus of the expansion is to help "limit identity fraud" and improve U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services' (USCIS) identity management systems. The rule would also eliminate age limits on the collection of biometrics, and subject immigration sponsors, including U.S. citizens, to biometrics collection.