On Tuesday, DHS advanced a proposal to expand biometrics collections for immigrants and their American sponsors, amid criticism that the policy would threaten privacy rights. Under the proposed rule, released in September, the government would collect more types of biometric data from immigrants and from more people, including U.S. citizen sponsors and children. Currently, DHS collects fingerprints, photographs and a signature from foreign citizens requesting certain immigration benefits. The new rule would also collect iris scans and facial recognition. The finalized version of the rule was sent to the White House budget office, and may be finalized before the end of the Trump administration in January.

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