DHS publishes notice to amend regulations concerning Collection and Use of Biometrics by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

On September 11, 2020, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published a notice to amend regulations concerning the use and collection of biometrics by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).  The DHS proposes that any applicant, petitioner, sponsor, beneficiary, or individual filing or associated with an immigration benefit or request, including United States citizens, must appear for biometrics collection without regard to age unless DHS waives or exempts the biometrics requirement.  The rule proposes to authorize biometric collection, without regard to age, upon arrest of an alien for purposes of processing, care, custody, and initiation of removal proceedings. The rule also defines biometrics, increases the biometric modalities that DHS collects, requires DNA test results for certain individuals, and clarifies the purposes for which biometrics are taken.  

Written comments must be submitted on this rule on or before October 13, 2020.

• Read the Federal Register notice and submit comments here:
   https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/09/11/2020-19145/collection-and-use-of-biometrics-by-us-citizenship-and-immigration-services
• Advocacy contact: Janis.Reyes@sba.gov.