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Comment by bsimpson | Hacker News Reader

I'm a frequent traveler, but I've avoided Global Entry as a minor form of protest. The government doesn't need and shouldn't have my biometrics.

I've been reconsidering my position lately, as I've traveled places where biometric registration is compulsory, and the US surely has some deal in place to scoop up all that data.

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They already have your facial biometrics. And if you've had to apply for a visa to another country, you might have been required to submit your fingerprints, which you do through a facility in your home country (so both countries end up with the biometrics).

I fly often. 2 flights ago coming home to the US the border patrol flagged me into “pilot/flight attendant lane” as it was open.

I walked up and within 1 second of getting to the US border agent he said “hello Mr.botos, passport please.”

I’m here on hacker news so I’m both not surprised at the speed of technology but it’s jarring.

He knew who I was before I could even read his name badge. I don’t have global entry, but I do have precheck.

I have neither and I was admitted through SFO based solely on facial recognition. My passport never left my pocket.

Was exactly the feeling you're describing: whoa that was cool, but holy shit the ramifications are potentially terrifying.

If it makes you feel better, they trim down the list of people to match to based on who is expected to arrive.

If you are a naturalized US citizen the government has your biometrics already, you can't become a citizen without giving them up.

If you are a natural born citizen and have a passport the government has your picture. If not, there's the one in your driver's license. If not, a Google/Facebook search might dig one up.

So if you don't have a passport, or DL, or social media presence at all then I agree, don't sign up for Global Entry. But otherwise...

No you're not. All that's required to be a naturalized US citizen is to be physically born in the U.S. Or to be born to U.S. citizen parents. They also do not do biometrics for driver's licenses. A bad, 4 year old driver license photo from the local dmv is quite different than having an international database containing irrevocable details about your physiology.

Among many lessons in history are the degree to which such details have been abused by those in power.

Naturalized means you immigrated.

> No you're not. All that's required to be a naturalized US citizen is to be physically born in the U.S. Or to be born to U.S. citizen parents.

If you're a citizen by birth, you don't get naturalized (unless you've renounced and changed your mind), and that clause won't apply to you.

> They also do not do biometrics for driver's licenses.

California takes a thumbprint. I haven't done a survey of other states (I don't remember WA taking one, but it also wouldn't have been that surprising, so I might just not remember)

Naturalized = became a US citizen.

Born in the US or born to US parents = natural born citizen

> All that's required to be a naturalized US citizen is to be physically born in the U.S. Or to be born to U.S. citizen parents.

A naturalized citizen is someone who was not born a citizen and then becomes one. Both of your examples are of natural citizens.

You need to check on those definitions.

And Global Entry only requires to show a valid passport and state ID. There’s no thumbprints involved.

So in effect, Global Entry requires only information that the government already has, especially if you have a passport.

>All that's required to be a naturalized US citizen is to be physically born in the U.S.

You're getting "naturalized citizen" confused with "natural born citizen."

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