Maritime biometric identification

(a)

In general

Within one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security, acting through the Commandant of the Coast Guard, shall conduct, in the maritime environment, a program for the mobile biometric identification of suspected individuals, including terrorists, to enhance border security and for other purposes. (b)

Requirements

The Secretary shall ensure the program required in this section is coordinated with other biometric identification programs within the Department of Homeland Security. (c)

Cost analysis

Within 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Appropriations and Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committees on Appropriations and Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate an analysis of the cost of expanding the Coast Guard’s biometric identification capabilities for use by the Coast Guards Deployable Operations Group, cutters, stations, and other deployable maritime teams considered appropriate by the Secretary, and any other appropriate Department of Homeland Security maritime vessels and units. The analysis may include a tiered plan for the deployment of this program that gives priority to vessels and units more likely to encounter individuals suspected of making illegal border crossings through the maritime environment. (d)

Definition

For the purposes of this section, the term biometric identification means use of fingerprint and digital photography images.