Homeland Security Starts Tracking Illegals with Iris Scanner

Sept. 13th 2010

On a technology blog named Fast Company, Austin Carr reported that Homeland Security has begun to implement iris scanner technology to track illegal immigrants. Citing a article in USA Today, Carr stated

"The Department of Homeland Security is planning to test GRI's tech at a border patrol station in Texas, where it will be used to monitor illegal immigrants. Rather than continue to rely on oft-unreliable fingerprints, the DHS is experimenting with the scanners to see whether they have a viable future for border security."[1]

Although ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) has objected, tests are going to go on as scheduled in October. The article on USA Today stated

“The department will run a two-week test in October of commercially sold iris scanners at a Border Patrol station in McAllen, Texas, where they will be used on illegal immigrants, said Arun Vemury, program manager at the department's Science and Technology branch.”[2]

(Reliability: 8)

Comment: Iris scanner technology has been known to work, but until there is a field test for longer than two weeks, there will be, at best, a minimal impact upon the prevention of human smuggling. Despite objections, this would hopefully be used only in the manner this experiment intends, and it may possibly effective.

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[1] http://www.fastcompany.com/1688627/homeland-security-department-iris-scanners-track-illegal-immigrants

[2] http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/surveillance/2010-09-13-1Airis13_ST_N.htm