US fingerprints 'allied' visitors

Found on BBC on Friday, 02 April 2004
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A US requirement for visitors to be fingerprinted and photographed is being expanded to include citizens from America's closest allies.

The move will affect visitors from 27 countries - including the UK, Japan and Australia - whose nationals are able to visit the US without a visa.

The US-Visit (US Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology) security system is meant to identify travellers who have violated immigration controls, have criminal records or belong to groups listed as terrorist organisations by the US.

Citizens from the 27 countries will still be allowed to visit the US without a visa, although they will now have to be fingerprinted and photographed before they enter.

Asked whether the data on visitors would be kept, Mr Hutchinson said it would - in part to "facilitate travel" for frequent visitors to the US.

I don't like being treated like a criminal when crossing a border. The solution to this problem is rather simple: I will never enter US territory. Perhaps it will change when they get rid of that ridiculous amount of paranoia and self isolation.