The United States Visitor and Immigration Status Indicator Technology (

The United States Visitor and Immigration Status index number Technology (US-VISIT) Program IntroductionThe United States Visitor and Immigration Status Indicator Technology (US-VISIT) program was introduced on January 5th, 2004 at all air and sea ports of the United States of America. This program, as outlined by the Department of Homeland Security, aims to increase the take of security in the U.S. while allowing it to remain a multicultural land with people from all parts of the world. Specifically, the US-VISIT programs goals are toEnhance the security of United States Citizens, durable residents and visitors1Facilitate legitimate travel and trade1Ensure the integrity of the immigration system1Safeguard the personal covert of visitors 1US-VISIT utilizes biometric technologyi to digitally photograph and scan the deuce index fingers of all non-immigrant visa holders entering and exiting the United States. This means that U.S. citizens, most Canadians, and citizens of the 27 c ountriesii whose people are non required to have a visa, if staying for 90 days or less, are exempt from this program. Using this technology the government hopes to create a database to monitor the travel of foreign citizens, assuring that they do not overstay their visas, and to protect citizens and visitors by refusing entry to known or suspected criminals.2 The US-VISIT program raises the ethical issue of how much intrusion on the personal privacy of select individuals the world is willing to allow in hopes of combating terrorism and making our daily lives more secure. Collecting and storing information about a person and their break downments infringes upon their rights to move freely. It also c... ...s Arab Groups, 2002, 10 February 2004, 11 Fox News, U.S. Begins Foreign Visitor-Tracking Program, 2004, 10 February 2004, 12 Associated Press, Fast Facts Countries Exempt From US-VISIT, 2004, 10 February 2004,13 Associated Press, Visitors Reactions Vary on New Tracking Progr am, 2004, 10 February 2004,14 Santa Clara Universitys Markkula center field for Applied Ethics, 2003?, 10 February 2004, 15 MichNews.com, Sartre, Do Foreigners Have the Right to Enter the United States?, 2004, 10 February 2004,