Securitizing Borders: An Exploration of Biometric Technologies as a Means of Criminalizing and Surveilling Immigrant Communities in the United States

Abstract

This thesis is focused on the use of biometric technologies during immigration processes in the United States of America. Most importantly, it looks into the ways that race influences its utilization and public support of the technology. Biometric technology is defined as any form of technology that can be used to identify a person based on the measurements of their body. Biometrics are often perceived as an unbiased science; however, research has shown that there are varying levels of accuracy when the technology is put to use. In addition to the technology being imperfect and racially biased, the implementation of biometrics within the United States’ immigration process has often been correlated with an increased securitization and militarization of borders and points of entries. Based on the history of biometrics and immigration in the US, this technology has often been put to use in order to properly identify travelers. This need to identify travelers is rooted in the need to secure the United States’ national security and it stems back to a fear of terrorism and crime being brought to the US by these travelers. This is exhibited in the punitive immigration policies that the federal government has passed. These policies and public discourse have further criminalized immigrants and have associated immigration with terrorism and crime. This was especially the case after the terrorist attacks of 9/11. In order to have a better understanding of the United State government’s use of biometrics, I look into the history of biometrics within the US. In addition to this, a survey experiment was conducted on a random sample of 1051 people from the general US population so that I would have a better understanding of how race influences public opinion about the use of biometric technologies in the context of immigration. This thesis attempts to show that the use of biometrics in the US’ immigration process targets specific immigrant communities (Black, Latino, Muslim/Arab/South Asian) and that the technology in itself is not as unbiased as it seems. There are also policy suggestions that attempt to address the ways that biometric immigration policies have targeted specific racial demographics.