Homeland Security to Collect DNA of Illegal Immigrants at Border

A Border Patrol agent apprehends illegal aliens who have just crossed the Rio Grande from Mexico into Penitas, Texas, on March 21, 2019. Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times

WASHINGTON—The Department of Homeland Security is planning to start collecting DNA from illegal immigrants for the FBI’s massive database, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ).

The DOJ issued a proposed rule change on Oct. 21 that eliminates a 2008 exception given to Homeland Security that exempted non-U.S. citizens from the DNA Fingerprint Act of 2005.