1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

Big Brother is not only watching us — he wants our DNA and other biometric data as well. The administration has proposed a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) rule, Collection and Use of Biometrics by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, that allows the collection of DNA data, allegedly to help prove familial relationships, but also to “prove or disprove the existence of a claimed, or unclaimed … biological sex.” The first Trump administration tried to implement this policy towards the end of its first disastrous term, but the Biden administration, which was made up (mostly) of humans with empathy and consciences, struck it down before it could take effect. And for that, hallelujah. This is an obvious attempt to both make immigration much more costly, both in time and in money, and to criminalize anyone who isn’t cisgender by this badministration’s unscientific definitions. LGBTQ+ groups say that the rule tramples privacy rights and “empowers mass and unprecedented surveillance” of the LGBTQ community. And the Congressional Committee on Homeland Security said the rule would increase the already staggering backlog of immigrant applicants under the DHS while endangering the personal data of millions. According to journalist Erin in the Morning, the policy as proposed doesn’t have many safeguards for privacy or constitutionality—the government can retain someone’s DNA profile indefinitely. It could further be weaponized to deny bids for immigration or asylum, out trans and intersex women being held in detention (who may not even know they are intersex otherwise), and track individuals in perpetuity through “continuous vetting.” Please take action to block the implementation of this invasive, costly, and overreaching proposed DHS rule.