Panicked ACLU is Fighting, with CNN's Help, DHS' DNA Testing of Fraudulent Refugees at Border

 

 

From: Abdullah Hasan [mailto:ahasan@aclu.org]
Sent: Friday, May 10, 2019 10:26 AM
Subject: ICYMI -- CNN (Opinion): DHS' New Anti-Immigrant Scare Tactic: DNA Testing

 

Hope you're well. In case you missed it, CNN ran an op-ed by ACLU staff attorney Vera Eidelman detailing the dangers of the Trump administration's plan to run a Rapid DNA testing program at the border. 

As Vera notes in the op-ed, it is important to not only question the administration's justification for the DNA program, but also recognize the program for the intimidation tactic it is. It miscasts individuals seeking asylum at the border as criminals. It builds off that narrative to conduct increasingly intrusive biometric tests on a vulnerable population. And it uses the pretext of the border to extend the government's surveillance infrastructure.

The full op-ed can be found here: https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/09/opinions/dangers-of-government-dna-testing-eidelman/index.html. A portion of the op-ed is below.

Please do reach out if any questions.

Thanks,
Abdullah

Abdullah Hasan

Communications Strategist

American Civil Liberties Union

125 Broad St., New York, NY 10004

office: 646.905.8879 ahasan@aclu.org
 

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CNN (Opinion): The dangers of the government's DNA testing program
By Vera Eidelman, 11:13 PM ET, Thu May 9, 2019

The Trump administration will start piloting a Rapid DNA testing program at the US-Mexico border in an attempt to "identify and prosecute individuals posing as families," two Department of Homeland Security officials told CNN. The pilot will reportedly run for two to three days to "assess the usefulness of this technology in an investigative process," according to the acting deputy director of ICE.

Questioning the justification for the DNA program is necessary, especially when the administration has the propensity to distort or misrepresent statistics, lodge claims about the border without clear evidence, and even lie. We must also recognize the DNA testing program for what it is: yet another attempt by the Trump administration to intimidate and deter asylum seekers. It miscasts individuals seeking asylum at the border as criminals. It builds off that narrative to conduct increasingly intrusive biometric tests on a vulnerable population. And it uses the pretext of the border to extend the government's surveillance infrastructure....

The full op-ed can be found here: https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/09/opinions/dangers-of-government-dna-testing-eidelman/index.html.