The Department of Homeland Security announced on Tuesday that it has begun collecting additional fingerprints from international visitors at the Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport. This increased security measure, is part of a larger departmental upgrade to enhance security measures at U.S. ports of entry and to better establish visitors’ identities upon arrival in the U.S. With some exceptions, all non-U.S. citizens between the ages of 14 and 79 will be required to comply with this new regulation upon entry to the U.S.

Detroit’s Metropolitan Airport is the eighth port of entry to begin collecting 10 fingerprints from international visitors. Numerous foreign visitors enter the U.S. at this air port of entry; on average, roughly 1,900 international visitors complete US VISIT biometric procedures at the airport. The majority of these international visitors come from Japan, the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands and India. By the end of 2008, all air, sea and land ports will transition to this enhanced security measure.

"Biometrics have revolutionized our ability to prevent dangerous people from entering the United States since 2004. Our upgrade to 10 fingerprint collection builds on our success, enabling us to focus more attention on stopping potential security risks," said Robert Mocny, director of the US VISIT program.