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Return to Article: DHS official: Airlines best suited to run fingerprint program

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  I agree with a comment above, that border security is a government responsibility and pawning it off on private companies will over burden an already hurting airline system... and it will provide the government a ready scapegoat if something goes wrong. And, as someone said above, since you're already going thru govt security at checkpoints, just put your finger in the reader and you're either getting thru or you're not... it seems pretty simple at first glance.

  JDP Posted May 7, 2008 12:07 PM
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  DHS-what a joke! Border security is a FEDERAL responsibility, not the airlines. DHS is understaffed and underfunded and they are trying to pass off our nation's safety and security to the airlines. Remember what happened in 2001??

  Don Bishop Posted May 2, 2008 12:47 PM
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  Deja vu all over again. Global Entry is like INSPASS, a loudly touted, poorly executed effort to let "trusted travelers" bypass INS. This one lets them bypass Customs too. Baker's argument is insightful: the airlines should want to do it because DHS will likely foul it up. All and all, not a reassuring program. Actually, all and all, it really, really sucks.

  Robert L Posted May 2, 2008 10:49 AM
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  Lets be realistic asking customs to take fingerprints is beyond their mental capacity. Remember to be a customs agent you only have to have a GED, can you imagine how long the lines would be for them to capture the information. If they take on the responsibility you'll have to get to airport a day early and stand in line

  Dan ketter Posted May 2, 2008 10:46 AM
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  Since we all have to go through TSA screening prior to boarding a flight, why couldn't TSA officials route foreigners leaving the country to a separate area for taking fingerprints? As this is a government objective, why should the airlines be burdened with such a time-consuming and expensive process? I have taken fingerprints from federal applicants and it is not as easy as it looks. The criteria for a good set of prints is very critical. If not done properly, it renders the prints useless. If someone who doesn't want to do it or doesn't care takes the prints, he/she will just go through the motions without a viable product.

  GT Posted May 2, 2008 10:23 AM
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  So the plan is that the airlines will collect the out bound information? This would be the same airlines whose counter clerks keep TSA Air Marshalls off flights (see today's Washington Times)?

  While this would be better than the non-collection of information currently going on, if most 3rd world countries can manage this, why can't we? Lets give the passengers a motive to clear on the way out. No outbound clearance no re-entry the next time without a visa no matter where you are from.

  Jim Kaley Posted May 2, 2008 10:02 AM
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  Yeah yeah, pass responsbility on to the airlines, more evidence that DHS can't do its own job. But, as far as "Global Entry", the government already has my fingerprints and personal information, initially, and now again for my HSPD 12 ID....so does that automatically enroll me? The lack of information sharing and duplication of information databases is definitely becoming appalling.

  timmer Posted May 2, 2008 7:34 AM
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  If kiosks or mail-in forms are authorized and/or used, wouldn't fingerprints become meaningless and counter productive? What would prevent someone from having a friend's prints used or using some other method of making "finger prints" on an unmonitored form or machine from being accepted?

  WAYNE TROTTER Posted May 2, 2008 5:34 AM