The Department of Homeland Security announced on Tuesday that it has begun collecting additional fingerprints from international visitors at Boston’s Logan International 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.

Logan Airport is the third port of entry to begin collecting 10 fingerprints from international visitors. Washington, D.C.’s Dulles International Airport began this enhanced collection process on November 29, 2007 and Atlanta’s Hartsfield Jackson International Airport began collection on January 6, 2008. In the near future, 10-fingerprint collections will also begin at the following airports: Chicago O'Hare International Airport; San Francisco International Airport; George Bush Houston Intercontinental Airport; Miami International Airport; Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport; Orlando International Airport; and New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport. 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,” said Robert Mocny, US VISIT Director. “Our upgrade to 10 fingerprint collection builds on our success, enabling us to focus more attention on stopping potential security risks.”