In order to keep New York attractive as an international financial center,
it has to be reasonably easy for foreigners to get in and out. Not that the
Department of Homeland Security seems to care. Already taking two fingerprints
from every non-citizen entering the country, the DHS has now announced
that it will require ten fingerprints at Dulles from November 29, and
at JFK and eight other airports in early 2008. Because heaven forfend anybody
coming through Dulles not be known to the Authorities by the fingerprint on
their left pinkie. Even if it means even longer lines to get into the country
at the airport.
But wait, it gets better. By the end of 2008, the Department of Homeland Security
wants to fingerprint everybody
exiting the country as well. DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff pledged
as recently as September 5 that deadline would be met. Can you even imagine
where this fingerprinting might happen? The DHS wants the airlines to do it
at the gate, but they hate the idea, which would seem to positively guarantee
further delays. The alternative is to do it at the security screening, which
of course is such a pleasant breeze right now.
The really crazy thing is that all of this fingerprinting realistically achieves
nothing, at least unless and until it is implemented at the land borders with
Mexico and Canada as well. And there’s no
chance of that happening in the foreseeable future. So millions are inconvenienced
to no end. No wonder London is looking increasingly welcoming, Heathrow
notwithstanding.