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Uncle Sam demands your DNA in massive immigration data grab
The Department of Homeland Security is wants to gather biometric data from nearly anyone connected to an immigration case.
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The Department of Homeland Security is about to take “big government” to a whole new level.
A new proposed rule would let DHS sweep up all kinds of biometric data—not just from immigrants, but from almost anyone linked to an immigration case.
That includes U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents, regardless of age, as first reported by The Register.
We’re not just talking fingerprints. The proposal expands “biometrics” to cover just about any unique biological or behavioral identifier you can think of—retina scans, DNA, voice prints, facial recognition, and more, according to the official document in the Federal Register.
That means anyone even tangentially involved—whether you’re the applicant, a family member, or a sponsor—could be handing over something as private as your DNA sample, as outlined by Newsweek.
DHS claims the move is all about “identity verification” and catching fraudsters, but critics and commenters aren’t buying it.
The reaction from the public has been resoundingly negative, with people calling the proposal “government overreach” and even drawing comparisons to surveillance states, as The Register reports.
An especially controversial part? The requirement for U.S. citizens to submit biometrics just because they’re sponsoring or related to someone in the system—something DHS hasn’t publicly justified yet.
The proposal’s comment period runs through January 2, 2026, so there’s still time to make your voice heard through the Federal Register.
Until then, it’s clear: if this rule survives the backlash, your face, voice, and DNA could all be part of the price for navigating U.S. immigration.
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