US Customs and Border Protection officers have been collecting DNA samples from migrants at the southern border since 2020. This program, which is not widely known, has gathered information from over 1 million individuals to date. When migrants arrive seeking asylum, agents swab the inside of their mouths to collect saliva, and this data is stored indefinitely in a database managed by the FBI.
Melissa del Bosque, a reporter and editor for The Border Chronicle, discussed the program with Texas Standard. She explained that the DNA information is stored in a nationwide database called CODIS, or Combined DNA Index System. This database is used by local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies to search for DNA profiles from convicted offenders, unsolved crime evidence, and missing persons.
Under the Trump administration in 2020, the DNA collection program was expanded to include migrants crossing the border, regardless of whether they are permitted entry into the country. This data can then be accessed by law enforcement agencies. Del Bosque mentioned that some asylum seekers she spoke to were unaware that their DNA had been taken, with some mistaking it for a COVID test.
In terms of future applications, there is concern about how this DNA data might be utilized. Private corporations are increasingly involved in policing and DNA analysis, with the potential to predict physical appearances based on genetic profiles. While the policy was initiated under Trump, it has continued under President Biden without much attention from lawmakers in Congress.
Del Bosque highlighted the potential legal implications of collecting DNA from migrants. While police typically require probable cause or reasonable suspicion to take DNA samples from individuals suspected of committing crimes, migrants seeking asylum are not necessarily involved in criminal cases. This raises questions about the constitutionality of collecting DNA from individuals in these circumstances.
The article sheds light on a controversial practice that has been happening at the southern border, raising concerns about privacy, consent, and legal rights. It emphasizes the need for further discussion and oversight regarding the collection and use of DNA data from migrants. By understanding the implications of such programs, the public can advocate for transparency and accountability in border security practices.