Maritime Biometric Identification Program
Floor Speech
MARITIME BIOMETRIC IDENTIFICATION PROGRAM -- (House of Representatives - March 24, 2009)
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Mr. BILIRAKIS. I yield myself, Mr. Speaker, as much time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1148 which I introduced earlier this year. This bill directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to conduct a cost analysis and determine the most appropriate places to expand upon a successful pilot program conducted by the Coast Guard that collects biometric information on illegal aliens interdicted at sea. This tool, as used by the Coast Guard, has made a measurable impact on our border security and could be used by other DHS components with assets in the maritime environment, such as Customs and Border Protection. The expansion of this program will further enhance the Department's efforts to secure our borders.
The February 3 episode of Homeland Security U.S.A. showed the Coast Guard using this technology at sea when it rescued a boat full of illegal aliens attempting to make it from the Dominican Republic to Puerto Rico. As a result of the use of these biometrics, the Coast Guard was able to identify and detain 10 individuals with criminal records in the United States, including a repeat human smuggler who was wanted by Customs and Border Protection. This episode illustrated the use of biometrics at sea and on land. It works. In fact, the Coast Guard has reported that illegal migration in the Mona Pass, the narrow body of water between the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, has been reduced by 75 percent as a result of the biometrics program.
Since the beginning of the Coast Guard's biometrics pilot in the Caribbean in November, 2006, the Coast Guard has collected biometric data from 2,455 migrants using handheld scanners. This has resulted in the identification of 598 individuals with criminal records, and the U.S. Attorney's Office in San Juan, Puerto Rico, has prosecuted 271 individuals for violations of U.S. law, with a 100 percent conviction rate.
We have seen the success of this pilot program. It ensures that individuals attempting to enter the United States illegally by sea that have criminal records will not simply be returned to their homelands. They will be detained so they cannot attempt to enter the U.S. again.
It is now time for the Department to determine the best and most effective manner to expand this program to enhance border security. I hope the Department will deploy this program in the most risk-based, cost-efficient manner possible consistent with the current appropriations of the Coast Guard and other DHS components. I also look forward to expanding the appropriations for this program. And I urge my colleagues to join me in this effort.
This is the third time that the House is considering legislation to authorize this program. An amendment I offered to the Coast Guard Authorization Act that was similar to the bill was considered, it was passed actually, last year by a voice vote on April 24. In addition, the House passed a stand-alone version of that amendment last summer, as Mr. Carney said, with his support, at 394-3.
The biometrics program is another tool that is being used by the Department in its effort to secure our borders. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 1148.
I reserve the balance of my time.
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