Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies Center for International Security and Cooperation Stanford University


CISAC News



March 4, 2005 - In the News

Different fingerprint systems thwart interagency cooperation

Appeared in Federal Computer Week, February 18, 2005

Despite repeated investigations showing that different fingerprint systems used by immigration and criminal agencies prevent information-sharing that would help keep terrorists from entering the country, U.S. Departments of Justice, State and Homeland Security have yet to agree on a uniform system.

CISAC affiliated faculty member Lawrence Wein and CISAC Fellow Manas Baveja studied the Department of Homeland Security's two-fingerprint system and found it inadequate, as Wein testified before Congress last fall. Aliya Sternstein of Federal Computer Week cites their research as she examines the problem in "Fingerprint standard still elusive" (see link below).




Topics: Homeland Security | Immigration