New border program gets mixed reviews.

Byline: Brenda Gazzar

Aug. 11--More than 18 months after the initial phase-in of a biometrics-based border inspections program, its effectiveness in deterring and intercepting ineligible foreign visitors, including criminals, remains contested.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security argues that the United States-Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology program enhances security while ensuring the integrity of the nation's immigration system and facilitating legitimate travel and trade.

The program collects biographic information as well as digital fingerscans and digital photographs of foreign visitors at visa-issuing posts around the world, and at entry and exit points in the country to authenticate visitors' identities. It also provides watch list checks with …