Landed immigrants to be fingerprinted, photographed upon entering U.S.

New rules requiring landed immigrants to be fingerprinted and photographed before entering the United States start to kick in this month. Some activists already are decrying them as racist. The procedures, which will be in place starting Nov. 15 at the Blue Water Bridge that connects Sarnia, Ontario, with Port Huron, Mich., also apply to those who need visas to travel south of the border. The visas may be required for business reasons or for Canadians who are engaged to Americans. "In the end ... we want to know who's knocking on our door," Robert Mocny of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security said at a news conference Thursday. "When you know who the individual is, you're more than happy to welcome them into your home." The biometric finger scans and digital photographs are part of the anti-terrorism program called U.S.-VISIT. They have been in place at air and sea ports since January. By year's end, the measures will be in place at 17 Canada-U.S. land border crossings and will be at all other points of entry by Dec. 31, 2005. [more]