The Homeland Security Department received more than 5,000 comments on a proposed rule that would expand the scope of its biometric information collection activities related to immigration enforcement.
The rule would allow U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to collect more types of biometric information—such as face and iris scans—from more people, including children. The proposal was published in the Federal Register Sept. 11 and the 30-day comment period closed Tuesday.
The thousands of comments included concerns that the rule creates a mass surveillance program without justification and others that voiced frustration over the short length of the comments period. More than 100 organizations joined a letter requesting a minimum of 60 days to comment on the proposal, which is 85 pages long. Sixty days is the typical length of time agencies are supposed to allow for public comment.
Though some commenters simply asked for more clarification around specific provisions, many others from immigration advocacy organizations, technology watchdogs and concerned individuals called the rule a dangerous and unwarranted threat to privacy.
Congressional Hispanic Caucus members submitted a joint letter stating the proposed rule would institutionalize a system that puts immigrants and their families under constant surveillance.
“The rule would make invasive and unnecessary biometrics collection the norm, not the exception,” the CHC letter reads.
The rule proposes expanding the collection of biometric information in several ways. USCIS would be able to collect iris scans, face scans, voice prints and palm prints as well as ..
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