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.