The Trump administration has increasingly utilized DNA technology for arresting immigrants, including children. This has sparked concerns from immigration advocates about the lack of transparency regarding the use and oversight of genetic information. Three advocacy groups—the Georgetown Law Center on Privacy & Technology, Amica Center for Immigrant Rights, and Americans for Immigrant Justice—filed a lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for not providing records on its DNA collection program, despite requests dating back to August 2024.
Since its expansion in 2020, DHS has dramatically increased its DNA contributions to the FBI’s CODIS database, which can be accessed by law enforcement nationwide. Critics, including Stevie Glaberson from the Georgetown center, argue that the program collects DNA from individuals not accused of crimes and lacks necessary regulatory safeguards. He emphasized the need for transparency, criticizing the government’s practices.
While previous administrations also collected DNA as mandated by a 2005 law, the Biden administration has sought stricter compliance in data collection, although reports of uneven execution remain. The Biden’s rules were instituted after Trump’s executive order reinforced the 2005 mandate, leading to concerns about the accompanying surveillance of noncitizen communities.
Emily Tucker from the Georgetown center highlighted the broader implications of the DHS DNA program, warning it should not merely be viewed as immigration enforcement but as part of a vast surveillance operation. She noted that the lack of accountability and oversight in the use of immigration authority allows for the potential misuse of this DNA information, which could ultimately intimidate and target not only noncitizens but also broader communities.
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