Bush administration pushing for biometric tests

The Bush administration would require commercial airlines and cruise-line operators to collect information such as fingerprints from international travellers and send the information to the US Homeland Security Department soon after the travellers leave the country, according to a proposed rule.

The proposal, which will be announced today, will close a security gap identified after the September 11, 2001, attacks and identify which visitors have overstayed their visas.

Airlines and cruise ship operators must already provide the department with biographical information on international passengers before they leave the country.

But this rule would require biometric information – such as fingerprints – to be collected and then transmitted within 24 hours of a visitor leaving the US.

Over 10 years, officials estimate it will cost air and sea carriers about $2.7bn (€1.7bn) to carry out the requirement.

The department plans to enforce the rule by June 30, 2009. Some air carriers have complained the federal government should cover the cost of implementing this rule.

US officials already collect fingerprints from visitors when they come into the country, but the administration has yet to complete the exit portion of the tracking programme – known as US-VISIT.

Politicians, including Representative Bennie Thompson, a Mississippi Democrat, have pressed the department to roll out its biometric exit system for more than a year.

“Any uncertainty about who is entering and leaving our country is an unacceptable risk that must be addressed,” Mr Thompson, chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, said.

There will be a 60-day comment period for the proposed rule.