ASISTA Opposes Harmful Proposed Rule Expanding Biometric Collection & Surveillance
On October 13, 2020, ASISTA submitted a comment in response to USCIS harmful new proposed rule that would pose significant privacy, confidentiality and safety implications for immigrant survivors of domestic and sexual violence, human trafficking, and other gender-based abuses.
The proposed rule would change, among other things:
- Drastically increase the types of biometric information collected from those who interact with DHS, even U.S. citizens, who are filing or associated with an immigration benefit, request, or enforcement, to include iris images, palm and voice prints, and DNA
- Change evidentiary requirements for VAWA Self-Petitioners and T visa holders applying for their green card as evidence of good moral character.
- Unlawfully expand the “lookback” period of good moral character determinations for VAWA self-petitions and T adjustment applications
- Eliminate the presumption of good moral character for those under 14 years old who are seeking status as VAWA Self-Petitioners and T visa adjustment.
- Creates harmful “continuous vetting” procedures in which individuals may “be subjected to continued and subsequent evaluation of eligibility for their immigration benefits to ensure they continue to present no risk of causing harm subsequent to their entry.”
Read ASISTA’s comment in opposition to this harmful rule below.