Canada immigration to share biometric info with US
November 25 2009 by Liam Clifford
The US join forces with Canada in using biometric technology to stop the threat of terrorism.
Canada immigration announced yesterday that they will be increasing security
at the country's borders by swapping refugees’ biometric information with the
US.
The announcement was made following a bilateral summit with US Home
Security Secretary Janet Napolitano. Canada immigration has already launched a biometric
information sharing programme with the UK and Australia. Under the new plans,
the US will also join this programme in order to try to prevent fraudulent
refugees from trying to move to Canada or the US.
Napolitano said,
"biometrics continue to be a powerful tool to prevent terrorists and criminals
from crossing our shared border and preventing identity theft and asylum
fraud.”
Napolitana also spoke in response to concerns about privacy and
the use of the biometric information. She added, "as we share information, we
are committed to protecting privacy and civil rights.”
The existing deal
with the UK and Australia was struck in August and intends to prevent criminals,
terrorists and others from fraudulently claiming the right to live in the UK,
Australia or Canada. Through the taking of fingerprints and the sharing of this
information, dubious immigrants are likely to be picked up by Canada immigration before they are able
to enter a country.
See the latest Immigration News
