The Justice Department announced Monday officially is proposing a new rule that authorizes the Department of Homeland Security United States (DHS) to collect DNA samples from the migrants in their custody. The announcement states that DNA samples will be entered into the FBI’s DNA database.
Lisa Ventura of Razola reported earlier this month that the Administration was moving forward with plans to implement the DNA collection of migrants who have been arrested.
Earlier this year, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Service deployed DNA tests at seven locations along the U.S.-Mexico border to determine family relationships amid concerns that some people were posing as families to be released in the United States. Since then, the agency has expanded DNA tests to three additional locations on the southern border.
DHS is currently working under the exceptions established almost a decade ago. In 2010, the then secretary of National Security, Janet Napolitano, requested an exemption for the collection of DNA from the DNA fingerprints Act of 2005, including migrants in custody who did not face criminal charges or pending deportation proceedings, citing the lack of agency resources at the time of collecting DNA.
Cindy Kerr is a reporter for The Social Business News Kat has previously interned at VICE and worked as a reporter for MSNBC.
