Justice Dept. Seeks DNA Samples From Illegals

Justice Department Seeks DNA Samples From Illegals

The Justice Department is formulating rules to allow the government to collect DNA samples from most people arrested or detained by federal authorities.

The move will constitute a vast expansion of DNA gathering and would include hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants.

The expansion was authorized by Congress in a January 2006 measure, but the Justice Department has not yet prepared regulations to carry out the law.

The goal of the measure is to make DNA sampling as routine as fingerprinting for anyone detained by federal authorities, the New York Times reports. At present, DNA samples are taken only from convicted felons.

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