Government ID, Smart Cards, Identification and Authentication

Coast Guard takes US VISIT mobile

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

The Mona Passage is a strip of ocean between the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. It’s a popular point for Dominicans to try and cross to get to the nearby U.S. territory. And now, biometrics, satellites and US VISIT are helping secure the waters.

The U.S. Coast Guard patrols the passage and attempts to interdict any immigrants trying to gain entry into Puerto Rico. Before November 2006, the Coast Guard didn’t have a way to properly identify those on the boats, relying on information from the passengers. “Most immigrants didn’t give us the correct biographical information,” says Lt. John Fiorentine, a cutter commander for the Coast Guard based in San Juan. “They knew we were looking for people with criminal records and they would give us false information.”

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