US-VISIT does not hurt U.S. trade and tourism!

I love this:

Will US-VISIT hurt U.S. trade and tourism?

To the contrary, US-VISIT enhances trade and tourism. By making America a safer place to visit and conduct business, US-VISIT enhances our economic security. In fact, US-VISIT sets an international standard in border security, and other nations are in the process of adopting systems similar to our own. Over time, new tools like the worldwide use of biometric identifiers will speed identity authentication, making check-in/check-out faster and more efficient. It is also hoped that better identity matching at primary processing will mean fewer people will be sent to secondary processing.

Now what the hell is US-VIST?

How do US-VISIT entry procedures work?

US-VISIT is part of a continuum of security measures that begins overseas, when a person applies for a visa to travel to the United States, and continues from their arrival to and departure from the United States. It incorporates eligibility determinations made by both the Departments of Homeland Security and State.

Enrollment in US-VISIT for visitors applying for a visa is done overseas at the visa-issuing post where each visitor has his or her biographic and biometric information – two index fingerscans and a digital photograph – captured by a State Department official.

By October 2004, all 211 visa-issuing posts will deploy US-VISIT as part of the visa process. The US-VISIT biometric procedure has already prevented known criminals from getting visas in the first place.

US-VISIT entry procedures are currently in place at 115 airports and 14 seaports. By the end of this year, US-VISIT will expand to the 50 busiest land ports of entry.

Upon a visitor’s arrival in the United States, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer uses an inkless digital fingerscanner to electronically capture two fingerscans. The visitor is asked to put the left index finger and then the right index finger on the scanner. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer also takes a digital photograph of the visitor.

The biographic and biometric data is used to match the visitor with the travel documents and is compared against watch lists. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer asks questions about the visitor’s stay in the United States. At that point, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer either admits the visitor or conducts additional inquiries based on the verification results. These procedures should reduce fraud, identity theft, and the risk that terrorists and criminals will enter the United States undetected.

While in the United States, should the visitor seek to adjust status or extend his or her stay, US-VISIT would be updated with any modifications to the individual’s status.

How does a U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer determine that a person requires additional or secondary screening?

If the data provided indicates possible national security concerns, other law enforcement concerns, improper documentation, or any other ground of inadmissibility to the United States, then the officer will refer the visitor for additional screening or assistance.

Source: Department of Homeland Security official website