The Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Coast Guard report that their year-old biometrics-at-sea program has resulted in a nearly 50 percent reduction in the flow of illegal aliens from Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic into the United States.

The biometric technology allows the Coast Guard to digitally capture the fingerprints of illegal immigrants intercepted at sea. Instantly transmitted via satellite, the prints can be compared to the US-VISIT system's database of known criminals and immigration violators.

"The use of biometric technology is an effective tool which will help increase maritime domain awareness through the positive identification of those we interdict," said Rear Adm. Wayne E. Justice, Coast Guard Director of Response Policy in a press release. "This collaborative effort is helping to deter illegal migration by applying consequences through successful prosecution."

During its first year of operation, the biometrics-at-sea program collected fingerprints from 1,368 sea-going migrants, 90 of whom were subsequently prosecuted.

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