BITMAP Authorization Act

This bill would create the Biometric Identification Transnational Migration Alert Program (BITMAP) within the Department of Homeland Security, run through U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Under the program, the U.S. would give partner countries training and equipment to collect fingerprints and other biometric and biographic data from foreign nationals and compare it against U.S. security and immigration databases. Before starting in a new country, the Secretary would need an agreement with that country and would have to send a copy to Congress within 60 days. Data on U.S. citizens captured by the program would have to be deleted unless kept for specific law enforcement or intelligence purposes. The program would end after six years, and the bill requires yearly reports, briefings to Congress, and audits by the Government Accountability Office.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• Michael T. McCaul Republican sponsor
• 3 cosponsors