Explainer: DHS Expands Efforts to Collect DNA Samples from Immigrants

In early 2020, the Trump Administration began implementing a multi-pronged effort to collect DNA samples from immigrants to be used by federal and state law enforcement authorities to investigate crimes. Beginning April 8, 2020, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is authorized to collect DNA from all detained immigrants. This Explainer will summarize these policies and their origins, describe the asserted purpose behind them, who is affected, and concerns voiced by advocates and ethicists over the expansion of DNA sample collection from detained immigrants.