H.R. 8371 — Reform Immigration Through Biometrics Act

This section directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to submit three reports within 180 days of enactment to the Committees on Homeland Security and the Judiciary of the House of Representatives and the Committees on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and the Judiciary of the Senate evaluating implementation of the integrated biometric entry and exit data system mandated by section 110 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1365a) (the System), which Congress directed DHS to establish for recording overseas arrivals and departures biometrically to improve counterterrorism capabilities and identify visa overstays. (1) The first report assesses the System's status, including impacts on arrival and departure wait times and on legitimate travel and trade, counterterrorism, and visa compliance; evaluations of private-sector device audits and consultations; achieved milestones and metrics (and needed updates); and risks with mitigation strategies. (2) The second report details how the System matches biometrics of departing individuals—regardless of nationality, citizenship, or immigration status—against prior U.S. government data, excluding U.S. citizens' information except facial recognition privacy protections. (3) The third report evaluates sharing of biographic data from the Canadian Border Services Agency under the 2011 Beyond the Border agreement and its impacts. The section requires the System to minimize disruptions to air, sea, and land travel and trade while fulfilling its goals; clarifies it does not limit other DHS biometric collection; and preserves authority to collect permitted user fees.