US broadens tracking program

A program requiring foreigners to be fingerprinted and photographed before entering the United States is being expanded to include millions of travelers from some of America’s staunchest allies, reported the Associated Press. The move affects citizens in 27 countries — including Britain, Australia and Japan– who had been allowed to travel within the United States without visas for up to 90 days. The area that could be most adversely impacted could be Hawaii, said the AP, quoting state officials. “This is not going to be positive,” said Frank Haas, tourism marketing director of the state’s Hawaii Tourism Authority. “We could have people in line for four hours or more,” said Marsha Weinert, tourism liaison in the governor’s office. “That’s not the type of aloha we want to extend to visitors coming into our state.” The changes in the US-VISIT program will take effect by Sept. 30. Travelers from the 27 countries will be fingerprinted and photographed each time they enter the United States through any of 115 international airports and 14 seaports. The program will be expanded to border crossings later. The 27 countries identified by AP are Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. The Bush administration made the move after determining most of the so-called “visa-waiver countries” will not meet an October deadline to have biometric passports, said Asa Hutchinson, undersecretary for border and transportation security. –Report by David Wilkening–