Travel 2.0: Vaccine Passports and Visas—What’s Next on the Horizon

One of the industries perhaps hardest hit by the coronavirus, the travel industry, received welcomed news late last week in the form of CDC guidance stating that people fully vaccinated against COVID-19 can resume domestic travel and do not need to get tested for COVID-19 before or after travel or self-quarantine after travel. According to … Continue Reading

DHS IG Report Raises Questions About Department’s and its Subcontractors’ Ability to Protect Biometric Information Following Breach

By Joseph J. Lazzarotti on September 29, 2020 Posted in: Biometric Information, Data Security, Identity Theft, Information Management, Third Party Service Providers, Written Information Security Program

Earlier this month, our Immigration Group colleagues reported the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) would release a new regulation to expand the collection of biometric data in the enforcement and administration of immigration laws. However, as reported by Roll Call, a DHS Inspector General report raised significant concerns about whether Department is able to adequately … Continue Reading

Privacy Issues of U.S. Collection of Social Media Information from Visa Applicants

By Joseph J. Lazzarotti and Amy L. Peck on June 22, 2020 Posted in: California Consumer Privacy Act, Consumer Privacy, Monitoring

The Department of State (DOS) has been collecting (and maintaining) information on social media use from all visa applicants (immigrant and non-immigrant) since June 2019. The DOS’s collection and maintenance of this information is the subject of a lawsuit. Despite claims of being part of the vetting process, concerns about privacy and misuse of information remain. … Continue Reading