Strengthen Maritime Security
H.R. 2490
July 17, 2007
H.R. 2490, introduced by Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), would strengthen national maritime security by screening interdicted aliens against Department of Homeland Security biometric watch lists.
This bill would establish a pilot program to collect biometric information on waterborne migrants seeking illegal entry into the United States, and compare that information to the US-VISIT IDENT database (a federal database of criminals and others wanted for violations of U.S. laws) to track immigration violators, criminals, previous deportees, and possible terrorists to ensure that they are not released to continue their dangerous and illegal behavior simply because we do not know who they are.
The Coast Guard is already partnering with US-VISIT to deploy mobile biometrics collection equipment on Coast Guard cutters operating between the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. Since starting this effort last year, the Coast Guard has interdicted more than 900 undocumented aliens. More than 20 percent of those interdicted were prior felons or immigration violators. Now, instead of being released, these individuals are detained and prosecuted. My bill will expand this effort into a formal pilot program and require DHS to evaluate the results to determine the feasibility and appropriateness of expanding such capability to all DHS maritime vessels.
Mobile biometrics has the potential to greatly improve the security of America’s maritime borders by giving DHS law enforcement personnel the ability to quickly identify and detain those who may pose serous threats to our homeland security or who repeatedly flout their disregard for our immigration laws. I urge you to cosponsor this common-sense bill and give our protectors the tools they need to keep us safe and ensure the sanctity of our immigration laws.