The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is finishing up its
proposal to collect either fingerprints or eye scans from all
international travelers at U.S. airports as the travelers leave the
U.S. This new plan, which would be in effect in two years, would enable
the U.S. government to track the 35 million international visitors that
leave the country each year, including visitors who may have overstayed
their visas. DHS expects the proposal will be submitted to the White
House for review and approval by next month.
The proposal has caused concern, especially from those in the airline
industry. Originally, the program would have required airlines to pay
for the majority of the costs of the program; however, DHS now says it
may remove that requirement. The program is expected to cost between $1
and $2 billion over a ten year period; a large portion of the costs
will most likely now be paid by taxpayers and international travelers.
Additionally, the program would not track international visitors
leaving the U.S. at land borders, because of additional costs and
associated delays in commerce and transactions. Eighty percent of
international travelers depart the U.S. from land borders.
