Authorities began scanning fingerprints and taking photographs of arriving foreigners Monday as part of a new program that Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said will make borders "open to travelers but closed to terrorists."

The program, aimed at letting Customs officials instantly check an immigrant or visitor's criminal background, targets foreigners entering the 115 U.S. airports that handle international flights, as well as 14 major seaports. The only exceptions will be visitors from 27 countries - mostly European nations - whose citizens are allowed to come to the United States for up to 90 days without visas.

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http://apnews.excite.com/article/200...D7VSOG800.html

I thought "Homeland Security" was run by Samba?? LOL

I saw that on the news the other day and I think its a fine idea....seems these people have a way of sneaking through other methods. Yet they make ME take off my clothes at the airport, how humiliating.

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Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.

What type of security is that if 27 countries are EXEMPT? The terrorists will just fly there first. No country should be exempt.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security says the goal of the US-VISIT program is to track the millions of people who come to the United States every year on business, student and tourist visas -- and to use the information as a tool against terrorists.

These terrorists have to be citizens of these exempt countries first before they can be a threat. A simple flight to that country will not allow these perpetrators to gain unmonitored access to the USA.

No more I-94 it seems. Paperless control is in full effect.

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Better yet, they should have documentation proving that they are citizens of one of the 27. Whether someone is really a citizen or not is another issue.

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One World, One People

The opinions expressed by Samba are not the official opinions of ETJ or its owners.

Why do we put locks on doors? To keep out honest people.Trouble always comes from the backside!
True, something must be done to attempt to ensure public safety, and all our glory-seeking politicians are making every effort to please us. My question is: Are more restrictions the only answer? Greater government control is often the enemy of peace.

You are so correct oldsalt, there is a saying: "the good must suffer for the bad". For those of us who are not followers of allah or have some terrosism in our bloods, we have to give up or human rights and privacy. This info I guess will soon be encrypted into a large database that may be hacked or corrupted, because its computer data. I may try to enter the country and the red code goes off. It''s not safe either so i hope they have legitimate backup plans.

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Bigger than that is already here, fighter jets are now escorting airplanes into the country. Damn what dis world coming to?

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Thanks for that heads up. I'm planning a trip there this year.