immigration

Tag Archives for immigration.

US Immigration Wants To Collect DNA Samples, Iris Scans, And Voice Prints From 50% More People

by Gary Leff on September 12, 2020

Sep 12 2020

A Notice of Proposed Rulemaking has been published by the Department of Homeland Security authorizing a significant increase in biometric information that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement would be able to collect.

The government redefines biometric to include behavioral characteristics along with biological characteristic that can be used to identify someone. And it outlines new types of biometrics that they plan to authorize themselves to collect.

Federal Government Admits It’s Too Incompetent To Know Who Should Get Global Entry, Who Shouldn’t

by Gary Leff on September 10, 2020

Sep 10 2020

The federal government submitted false statements in court to defend terminating global entry applications for New Yorkers. Now the government said they just didn’t know what they were talking about when making the claims, rather than intentionally lying.

The real question here is whether’s it’s a bigger problem if the federal government lies to the courts, or if the people responsible for trusted traveler programs do not know what information they’re receiving, or what information they need, in order to determine eligibility?

Starting Monday, Europe Flights Will Again Be Allowed At Any U.S. Airport

by Gary Leff on September 9, 2020

Sep 09 2020

The U.S. currently only permits 15 airports to receive flights from Europe (including the U.K.), China, or Brazil. That’s because passengers arriving on flights from these places are supposed to be specially screened for Covid-19, since they along with Iran are deemed high risk areas. This policy will be lifted on Monday, September 14.

New Government Report Shows Marriott, Hilton And Choice Hotels Used As Immigration Detention Centers

by Gary Leff on August 30, 2020

Aug 30 2020

Last month Hilton came under fire for housing children in the process of being deported by the United States. The chain told hotels they shouldn’t accept these bookings. Now we learn that children were being held in even more Hilton, Marriott, and Choice hotels than we thought.

At least 660 children have been held in hotels enroute to deportation. Most were unaccompanied by parents. According to the government “it cannot allow children to stay in the U.S. due to the coronavirus pandemic.”

US Border Patrol Says They Can Create Central Repository Of Traveler Emails, Keep Them For 75 Years

by Gary Leff on August 17, 2020

Aug 17 2020

The U.S. government has taken the opportunity during the global pandemic, when people aren’t traveling out of the country much, to roll out a new platform for storing information they believe they are entitled to take from people crossing the border. A new filing reveals how the U.S. Border Patrol will store data from traveler devices centrally, keeping it backed up and searchable for up to 75 years.

If Our Government Was Competent, Banning People From Entering With Diseases Could Make Sense

by Gary Leff on August 11, 2020

Aug 11 2020

The federal government is considering new rules “that would allow border officials to temporarily block an American citizen or legal permanent resident from returning to the United States from abroad if the authorities have reason to believe the person may be infected with the coronavirus.”

However they’d do this based on their best guess – and not testing – and they’re considering doing this now after the coronavirus barn door has already been left open.

Man Walks Out Of Hong Kong Airport After Three Months In Transit

by Gary Leff on July 4, 2020

Jul 04 2020

A Cathay Pacific passenger boarded a flight from Canada to Hong Kong back in March, intending to connect to Vietnam. Hong Kong transit was shut down March 25. Vietnam closed its border to arrivals. He lived inside the airport for three months.

Then he walked out.

Profitable Deportation Airline Scores $67 Million CARES Act Bailout

by Gary Leff on June 24, 2020

Jun 24 2020

Omni Air is a profitable ‘deportation airline’ operating charter flights for the Department of Homeland Security, and before securing the $67 million bailout they were awarded a new $78 million Defense Department contract.

They take deportation charters no one else will, billing the government as much as $11,000 per passenger. Their CARES Act funding appears to cover more payroll per person than any other airline receiving government funds.

US and Canada Will Extend Border Closure Through Late July

by Gary Leff on June 9, 2020

Jun 09 2020

Currently the border closure lasts through June 21, though Canada has loosened restrictions somewhat to allow family members of citizens and permanent residents to return starting today.

However the ban is expected to be extended by both the U.S. and Canada into late July, according to sources on both sides of the border.

Several Passengers Have Been Stuck Living In Airports Because Borders Are Shut Down

by Gary Leff on May 20, 2020

May 20 2020

With borders closing in response to the spread of the novel coronavirus, and national policies in some cases changing quickly, some passengers got stuck in the middle. Most people got advance notice, but what if their flights home were cancelled? Or there was confusion, and they were allowed to board a flight when they won’t be admitted at their final destination? Not every country ran rapatriation flights, either.