Identity, Security, Payments, Biometrics, Smart Cards and Authentication News

DHS expands Biometrics-at-Sea Program to the Florida Straits

Monday, March 3, 2008

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is expanding the operation of their biometrics-at-sea program to the south Florida Straits. This effort between US-VISIT and the Coast Guard uses mobile biometric technology to identify illegal migrants who are apprehended while attempting to enter the United States through the Mona Passage between Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, and now, the Florida Straits.

Rear Adm. Wayne E. Justice, director of response policy said, “Broadening the scope of the program represents DHS’s commitment to use every tool we have to deter, detect, apprehend, and prosecute illegal migrants, migrant smugglers and smuggling organizations.” [end] 

The South African Ministry of Home Affairs announced the expansion of its smart ID card pilot program, reports IT Web.

According to Home Affairs director-general Mkuseli Apleni, the smart ID card program is part of an effort by the national government to shed its racist past and create one identification card for all citizens. It will replace the current civic and immigration identity systems and capture demographic and biometric data of all South Africans and foreign nationals.

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Nationals Parks, home for the Washington Nationals of Major League Baseball, has initiated a pilot program where season ticket holders will each have their tickets delivered in the form of a smart card embedded with an RFID chip, according to Sports Business Daily.

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The Lee County School District in southwest Florida is the latest to experiment with palm scanners in an effort to move the lunch line along faster. Students currently have to key in their ID number. If they make a mistake, it can slow down the line.

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Singapore’s Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) plans to implement a mobile biometric screening device system to help its inland enforcement operations combat illegal immigrants.

As reported in the Straits Times and Today Online, the ICA is investing in MAVIS, the Mobile Automated Verification and Identification System. The handheld system can perform ID and fingerprint and facial recognition biometrics screening without having to bring a suspect into an office.

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Tallahassee-based Florida A&M University and campus card service provider CardSmith have announced plans to upgrade the university’s multi-functional Rattler Card program.

The new Rattler Card will feature Rattler Bucks, a prepaid spending account offering FAMU’s more than 13,000 students cashless access to an expanded range of campus facilities and services including the bookstore, dining venues, mobile payments, campus offices and off-campus merchants.

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Massachusetts-based Aware Inc. has announced it’s won three contracts to provide biometrics software and services for three large-scale border management systems in Europe, the Middle East and North America.

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