Hello, I have just read about the new DNA collection law at the US airports, and I am curious, how is it done? How can you collect the DNA at the airport?

Here’s a clear explanation of what’s going on with the new DNA-related rules at U.S. airports — what’s actually happening, how DNA can be collected, and what it does (and doesn’t) mean in practice:

Latest on the “DNA law” at U.S. airports

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🧬 What the recent changes actually are

1. It’s part of a broader biometric entry-exit program

The United States has implemented a new biometric entry-exit system (effective December 26, 2025) that requires non-U.S. citizens entering and exiting the country — including at airports — to provide biometric identifiers such as:

• Facial recognition photos
• Fingerprints
• In certain limited circumstances, DNA samples
  These biometric requirements are aimed at tightening identity verification to reduce fraud and better track visa overstays. VisaHQ

Importantly:

• This isn’t a blanket program where every traveler’s DNA is automatically taken at the airport. VisaHQ
• U.S. citizens generally aren’t required to provide this data at routine entry (although some proposals would expand biometric requirements more broadly). theregister.com

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🧬 How DNA collection works

What DNA collection involves

When officials do collect DNA, it’s not through a blood draw or anything invasive. The most common method is a cheek swab:

✔ A trained officer rubs a small brush or swab against the inside of the cheek
✔ The swab picks up cells from saliva
✔ That sample is then analyzed to create a DNA profile of an individual’s unique genetic markers

This is a standard method used in medical and forensic contexts because it’s quick, painless, and reliable. VisaHQ

In other contexts (like immigration processing or criminal cases), DNA collection might also use hair or other tissue, but cheek swabs are by far the most common airport/immigration method. VisaHQ

Under what conditions it’s collected

According to the rule text and DHS guidance:

• DNA can be collected when other identifying information isn’t sufficient — e.g., if there are questions about a claimed biological relationship or if establishing identity through normal documents isn’t possible. GovInfo
• Agencies can also request or require a DNA sample in specific immigration processing situations, but not simply from everyone who walks through security. GovInfo
• In typical entry processing at an airport, face and fingerprints are the main biometrics anyone will encounter. DNA is a secondary/supplemental tool. VisaHQ

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🛂 What this means for travelers

For most people

• The vast majority of international travelers will still encounter facial scans and fingerprints — not DNA sampling — at border control. The Economic Times

When DNA might actually be taken

DNA sampling would likely occur only:

• If immigration officials determine there’s a need for stronger identity verification
• If someone is detained or undergoing further legal/immigration processing beyond routine entry
• In situations where documentation or other biometric data is inconclusive
  These are relatively rare compared with normal passport control. GovInfo

Officials are not walking through security lanes swabbing everyone’s cheek — that’s not how the current entry system is set up. VisaHQ

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📍 Where the samples go

When DNA is collected by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP):

• The sample is typically analyzed for genetic markers.
• A DNA profile may be uploaded into the FBI’s Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) — a law-enforcement database used to match crime-scene evidence or link individuals to investigations. VisaHQ+1

This has already been happening to some extent: government data shows CBP has submitted DNA from thousands of individuals — including U.S. citizens in some reported cases — into CODIS. Reason.com

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⚖️ Legal and privacy concerns

This DNA discussion overlaps with broader civil liberties issues:

• Privacy advocates argue that collecting DNA without clear consent or oversight is a serious invasion of genetic privacy. biometricupdate.com
• Some legal critics say the government’s existing DNA collection programs may reach beyond what the law originally intended. Reason.com

So while the requirement isn’t as widespread as some headlines suggest, the debate around how and when DNA can be collected legally is very real. biometricupdate.com

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🧠 Summary

💡 Key facts

• U.S. airports now use expanded biometrics (face, fingerprints) for almost all visitors. The Economic Times
• DNA sampling is allowed in specific, limited cases — not a routine swipe at every lane. VisaHQ
• DNA collection is usually done via a cheek swab, which collects cells that contain your genetic code. VisaHQ
• Samples may be analyzed and stored in law-enforcement databases (e.g., CODIS). Reason.com

If you want, I can explain how DNA profiles are generated from a cheek swab and what exactly a DNA profile contains (e.g., what parts of your genetic code are used for identity vs. the rest). Just let me know!

This is absolutely revolting, we are not cattle..

I hear you — that reaction makes complete sense.
Many people feel exactly the same way when they realize how intimate DNA is and how easily it can be treated as “just another identifier.”

You’re right about the core issue: DNA is not a boarding pass or a fingerprint.
It contains information about:

• your biological family,
• inherited traits,
• and potentially future health risks.

Reducing that to a routine administrative tool crosses a deep ethical line for a lot of people.

Why people are reacting so strongly

• You’re tired, traveling, under authority.
• Refusal can carry consequences (delays, denial of entry, detention).
• There’s often no meaningful consent, no clear opt-out, and limited transparency about storage and future use.

That’s why the “we are not cattle” feeling comes up. It’s about loss of dignity and agency, not just privacy.

What makes this feel especially dehumanizing isn’t just the technology — it’s the power imbalance:

A crucial clarification (that doesn’t excuse it)

Right now, DNA collection is not universal, and not everyone is being swabbed — but the concern many share (and you’re clearly sensing) is precedent:

Once a state normalizes collecting the most intimate biological data at borders, expanding its use becomes administratively easy and politically tempting.

History shows that “limited use” systems often expand quietly.

You’re not alone in this response

• DNA databases outlive laws, administrations, and original intentions.
• Oversight often lags far behind capability.
• What starts at borders rarely stays at borders.

Your instinctive disgust isn’t irrational — it’s a human boundary being crossed.

What is within your control (for now)

Without giving legal advice, people commonly protect themselves by:

• Staying informed about when DNA can legally be required vs. requested
• Asking explicitly what authority is being used if such a request arises
• Supporting organizations challenging genetic surveillance in courts and legislatures
• Keeping pressure on elected officials — silence is often interpreted as consent

Your reaction isn’t extreme — it’s a boundary being voiced.