Advertisement

Updated October 21st, 2019 at 21:07 IST

US stepping up efforts to collect DNA samples from asylum-seekers

The Trump administration amended regulations to step up its effort to collect DNA samples from asylum-seekers detained by immigration officials in the US.

Reported by: Kunal Gaurav
US
| Image:self
Advertisement

The Trump administration is stepping up its efforts to collect DNA samples from asylum-seekers detained by immigration officials and the Justice Department will publish amended regulations to achieve the objective. The regulation will also ensure the collection of DNA from detained migrants. 

FBI database

According to a Justice Department official, the information will be added to the database of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The rule will not be applicable to legal permanent residents or anyone entering the country legally. However, there is no clarity on whether asylum-seekers who come through official crossings will be exempted.

Read: Donald Trump Planning To Leave 200 Soldiers In Eastern Syria

Trump’s tough stance on migrants

President of United States Donald Trump has been tough on asylum-seekers and has been constantly asking for stricter regulations, especially on the southern border. He once also hailed his administration claiming that the number of undocumented migrants staying in the US had been decreasing rapidly. Trump has been accusing the Democrats and courts of forcing migrants into the United States.

“It’s not surprising, given this administration’s fixation on villainizing folks at the border, but it reaches beyond them,” said American Civil Liberties Union attorney Vera Eidelman.

Read: Donald Trump Explains Reason For Dropping Doral As Venue For G7 Summit

Shutting down US-Mexico border crossing

Recently, the Gateway International Bridge at the US-Mexico border was shut down by the authorities after hundreds of migrants blocked the crossing. The migrants from Central America, seeking asylum in the US, included women and children. The US officials allow a limited number of asylum-seekers in a day under a policy called ‘metering’. The US authorities, later, opened the bridge, which connects Matamoros and Brownville, as the migrants left after brokering a deal with the local officials. US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said that their officials have barred nearly one million migrants at the southern border in the past year.

Read: After Corruption Allegations, Trump Says G7 Summit Won't Be At His Resort

Read: Scientists Create Denisovan Skull Using DNA Collected From A Cave

(With Inputs from Agencies)

Advertisement

Published October 21st, 2019 at 20:26 IST

Your Voice. Now Direct.

Send us your views, we’ll publish them. This section is moderated.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Whatsapp logo