DoJ proposes to take DNA samples from immigrations offenders
As part of a strong immigrations policy, we need to be able to control the flow of incoming foreigners such that people who have violated our laws before don’t get back in to do it again. This has long been one of the pillars of my own immigrations reform suggestions since a firm control of the border is the only thing that makes any other reform work. I am glad to see the Department of Justice putting forward a plan to take DNA samples from people arrested for immigrations violations.
A Mexican national arraigned last month in San Diego on 11 charges in a rape case is now a poster boy for a new Department of Justice policy requiring federal officials to take DNA samples from those arrested on immigration violations.
Before being charged with rape, suspect Carlos Ceron Salazar was deported nine times from the United States. Had the new DOJ policy been in place, federal officials say many victims could have been spared.
“In the past, we have had a limited authority to take DNA samples,” said Elisebeth Cook, an attorney in the Office of Legal Policy at the Justice Department. “It’s critical while we have the opportunity to take the sample.”
While they’re at it, they should take the full brace of biometric data, too: fingerprints, palm and face scans, and retina scan. All of that should be kept in the IDENT database used by DHS already.
