Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Reform Immigration Through Biometrics Act”.
Reform Immigration Through Biometrics Act
A BILL
To evaluate U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s implementation of an integrated biometric entry and exit data system in the United States, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Evaluation of CBP’s implementation of an integrated biometric entry and exit data system
Evaluation—
In general— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate a report on the status of efforts to implement an integrated entry and exit data system in accordance with section 110 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1365a; in this section referred to as the “System”).
Contents— The report required under paragraph (1) shall include information relating to the following with respect to the System:
The impact on arrival and departure wait times.
An evaluation of audits conducted on devices procured by the private sector.
An evaluation of prior and ongoing consultation with the private sector.
Milestones and metrics of success that have occurred already, and whether such milestones and metrics should be updated to successfully carry out the congressional directive to establish the System.
Risks and mitigation strategies to address such risks.
The effects of the System on the following:
Legitimate travel and trade.
Combating terrorism.
Identifying visa holders who violate the terms of their visas.
Requirement— The Secretary of Homeland Security shall ensure that the collection of biometric data under the System shall cause the least possible disruption to the movement of people or cargo in air, sea, or land transportation while fulfilling the goals of improving counterterrorism efforts and identifying visa holders who violate the terms of their visas.
Data matching assessment—
in general— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate a report on how the System is currently matching biometric information for an individual, regardless of nationality, citizenship, or immigration status, who is departing the United States against biometric data previously provided to the United States Government by such individual for the purposes of international travel.
Prohibition— The report required under paragraph (1) shall not include any information relating to citizens of the United States, except to describe the privacy protections for such citizens with regard to facial recognition.
Further evaluations— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate a report on whether the sharing of biographic data provided to the Department of Homeland Security by the Canadian Border Services Agency pursuant to the 2011 Beyond the Border agreement has occurred, and the impacts of such data sharing agreement.
Other biometric initiatives— Nothing in this section may be construed as limiting the authority of the Secretary of Homeland Security to collect biometric information in circumstances other than as specified in this section.
Savings clause— Nothing in this section may prohibit the collection of user fees permitted by section 13031 of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (19 U.S.C. 58c).