The Take Why the US is collecting DNA from migrants
Jul 25, 2025
Stevie Glaberson, Director of Research & Advocacy at Georgetown Law Center, sheds light on the troubling practice of the U.S. government collecting DNA from migrant children, some as young as four. He discusses how this surveillance blurs civil and criminal lines, raising serious privacy concerns. The conversation delves into the ethical implications of using DNA to monitor vulnerable populations, the lack of legal protections for migrants, and calls for community engagement to combat invasive surveillance practices.
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Massive DNA Collection by Immigration
- Over 2.6 million people, including children as young as four, have had their DNA collected by US immigration authorities.
- The DNA profiles are stored permanently in CODIS, the FBI's criminal database, enabling nationwide criminal investigations.
Migrant Confusion on DNA Collection
- Many migrants confuse DNA collection for COVID tests or health checks because agents fail to clearly explain the process.
- People seeking asylum often face this in a terrifying, coercive environment, risking their lives by interacting with immigration agents.
DNA Collection Exploded Post-2018
- The law enabling DNA collection from non-citizens existed for 15 years but was rarely used until 2018.
- Under the Trump and Biden administrations, DNA collection ramped up massively, with 2.6 million profiles added in five years.