Hatch bill seeks immigrants’ DNA

(File photo | The Associated Press) Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, wants an amendment to the immigration bill that would require the collection and filing of DNA samples from those seeking legal residency.

Washington Immigrants in the United States illegally who would seek permanent residency under an immigration reform bill before Congress would have to submit a DNA sample to be kept on file if Sen. Orrin Hatch has his way.

Hatch has submitted 24 amendments to the immigration package that he says will improve the bill, including one that would require the DNA test to be checked against criminal databases for anyone over the age of 18 who wants to gain provisional resident status.

"Inclusion of a DNA profile as part of any background check will ensure that decisions regarding residency status are made with fullest search of criminal activity and identification available," Hatchs office said in a memo describing his amendments.

The Senate reform bill, drafted by a bipartisan group of senators, would create a decade-or-longer pathway to citizenship for those in the country illegally as long as they pass through a series of hurdles and Americas borders are strengthened.

The bills first stop is the Senate Judiciary Committee, and its members have submitted hundreds of changes theyd like to see in the bill. Hatchs proposal would be the first to require DNA testing as part of the process to gain legal status, the initial step in seeking full citizenship.

The amendment quickly brought concerns from advocates for immigrants.

"Its a big difference to go from name and birth certificate to fingerprints and DNA," says Ali Noorani, executive director of the National Immigration Forum. "Its a slope that we have to be really careful with before we walk down it. ... To have a DNA database for people who the only thing they want to do is become Americans, seems a big step."

Gregory Chen, the director of advocacy for the American Immigration Lawyers Association, notes that the current bill already requires biographical information, including photos and fingerprints, for those applying for permanent status and Hatchs amendment would add significant burden and cost to the process.

"Why would they want to add this additional step when all those things would already be done," Chen said.

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Hatch bill seeks immigrants’ DNA