Hatrack River Forum: Tourists, Terrorists and Fingerprints

This is topic Tourists, Terrorists and Fingerprints in forum Books, Films, Food and Culture at Hatrack River Forum.

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Posted by Tristan (Member # 1670) on :

As can be read about on most major news sites today, the US is instituting a new program whereby an estimated 24 million yearly visitors will have their photos and fingerprints taken on arrival to, and at departure from, the US. Exempted from these measures are visitors from 27 countries, mainly European, with which the US has visa wavering agreements. The stated main purpose of the program is to make it harder for terrorists to enter the US, but apparently it will also be used to assure that visitors comply with their visa requirements. Brazil has reacted by taking similar measures against US tourists.

What do you all think about this? Will the program deter terrorists from entering the US? Will it do so to such an extent as to justify such invasive (and expensive) measures? Will it affect tourism? Would you hesitate to visit a country where you knew that you had to undergo such procedures? Should the program perhaps be expanded to include also the currently exempted nationalities and maybe even US citizens crossing the border?

http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/01/05/fingerprint.program/index.html

Posted by Rhaegar The Fool (Member # 5811) on :

I frankly couldn't care less, hey if they want to finger print me let 'em. I'm fine with it.

Posted by Dan_raven (Member # 3383) on :

Will it catch any terrorists? Unlikely.
Will it deter any terrorists? Unprovable.

Will it be one mores step in catching other crimminals? Probably.

Look to the future when, due to so many "Enemy Combatants" being US Citizens (2, 3?) that we have everyone fingerprinted before getting on an airplane.

Posted by Tristan (Member # 1670) on :

As Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said, this is but the "first significant step in a series of steps" the government plans to take in the coming months and years... [CNN]

*Cue ominous music*

[ January 05, 2004, 03:14 PM: Message edited by: Tristan ]

Posted by Kama (Member # 3022) on :

quote:
Would you hesitate to visit a country where you knew that you had to undergo such procedures?

Since visiting this country already requires paying 100+ dollars and staniding in line for a few hours just to be able to speak to a consul, who may or may not grant me a visa depending on his mood on a given day, I don't think the additional procedures would be a major problem [Smile]