AP IMPACT: Laser visas are rarely used

Source: Associated Press

AP IMPACT: Laser visas are rarely used

By ELLIOT SPAGAT, Associated Press Writer
Tue May 15, 6:36 PM ET

SAN DIEGO - The face- and fingerprint-matching technology
that has been touted over the past decade as a sophisticated
new way to stop terrorists and illegal immigrants from entering
the country through Mexico has one major drawback: U.S.
border inspectors almost never use it.

In fact, the necessary equipment is not even installed in
vehicle lanes along the border.

-snip-

Some members of Congress who voted for the system in 1996
are complaining they were misled. They said the intent was to
use biometrics — or a person's unique physical traits — to
screen everyone.

-snip-

The U.S. government has spent tens of millions of dollars
issuing visa cards digitally embedded with the holder's photo
and fingerprints.

Holders of the cards come across the border tens of millions
of times each year. But on average, in only about 2 percent
of those cases are the cardholders screened with the biometric
technology to verify their identities and check law-enforcement
records, said Paul Morris, Customs and Border Protection's
executive director of admissibility requirements and migration
control.

-snip-

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070515/ap_on_re_us/border_biometrics

If their citizens want entry to the US, like, ever, that is.