Dispute Looms With Europe On Biometric Passports
By Victor Comras
The United States appears intent on sticking to its October 26, 2005 deadline for imposing machine readable biometic data in passports or visas for all non americans entering the United States. The EU has indicated that not all of its members will have the required biometric passports in place prior to the US deadline (see my earlier blog -- Europe: Biometric Passports May be Years Away . They have asked for a further extension until April 4, 2006. Such an extension now appears unlikely following congressional hearings last week on the issue. This, despite the fact that House Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security and Claims was told that the Department of Homeland Security would not be ready either by October 26, 2005 deadline with machines capable of reading biometric passports at all ports of entry. The Europeans are also piqued that the US will not require that US passports incorporate biometic information by the October 26 date. The EU is therefore considering requiring visas from US citizens traveling to Europe.
Gijs de Vries, the EUs counter-terrorism co-ordinator, has warned that the consequences of a US refusal to extend the deadline is likely to "create a great deal of acrimony" between Europe and the United States at a time when increased cooperation is essential. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff will reportedly meet with House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration Chairman John Hostettler {(R) Indiana} next month to discuss the issue further.
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