Why the US is collecting DNA from migrants
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Al Jazeera
2 days ago
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FBI upgrades New Zealand office to counter China, international crime
The United States's Federal Bureau of Investigation has upgraded its presence in New Zealand to a standalone office in the capital, Wellington, as both governments work together to counter Chinese influence across the Asia Pacific region, the FBI's Director Kash Patel said. Patel travelled to New Zealand to open the office personally and on Thursday praised the FBI's 'strong relationship' with local law enforcement and intelligence agencies. Patel singled out US and New Zealand collaboration on issues related to China in a video shared by the US embassy. 'Some of the most important global issues of our times are the ones that New Zealand and America work on together – countering the CCP [Chinese Communist Party] in the Indo PACOM theatre, countering the narcotics trade, working together against cyber-intrusions and ransomware operations and, most importantly, protecting our respective citizenry,' Patel said. The US and New Zealand are both members of the 'Five Eyes' intelligence-sharing network, which includes Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom. They also collaborate on other issues such as organised crime, cybercrime, drug trafficking and child exploitation. The FBI has maintained a presence in New Zealand since 2017, but the standalone Wellington office marks a major upgrade in the US agency's presence and will oversee the bureau's work in Antarctica, Samoa, Niue, the Cook Islands and Tonga. Both governments have previously expressed concern about China's growing presence in the Pacific region and Beijing's successful campaign to expand its diplomatic and economic reach. Washington fears that the Chinese military could one day build an overseas base in the Pacific region, which has been traditionally considered the US's back yard. Minister Judith Collins, who is responsible for New Zealand's intelligence services, and the country's Police Minister Mark Mitchell both said they welcomed the FBI's decision as it would help 'keep New Zealand safe and secure'. Patel yesterday met with Collins, Mitchell and a handful of senior government ministers, including Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters, according to local media. The Minister was pleased to host FBI Director Kash Patel for talks in Wellington yesterday. They discussed: -the close security relationship between New Zealand and the United States; -law and order issues facing the Pacific; and -New Zealand-US cooperation here and in the… — Winston Peters (@NewZealandMFA) July 31, 2025
Al Jazeera
3 days ago
- Al Jazeera
Why the US is collecting DNA from migrants
DNA may be the new front line of immigration control. The United States government has collected the DNA of more than 130,000 migrant children and teenagers, some as young as four, and stored their profiles in CODIS, the FBI's criminal database. Officials say it's about public safety. But privacy advocates say it turns civil immigration cases into permanent criminal surveillance.
Al Jazeera
25-07-2025
- Al Jazeera
The Take: Inside US plan to surveil migrants
DNA may be the new front line of immigration control. The United States government has collected the DNA of more than 130,000 migrant children and teenagers, some as young as four, and stored their profiles in CODIS, the FBI's criminal database. Officials say it's about public safety. But privacy advocates say it turns civil immigration cases into permanent criminal surveillance. In this episode: Stevie Glaberson (@sglabe) – Director of research and advocacy at Georgetown Law Center Episode credits: This episode was produced by Noor Wazwaz, Sari el-Khalili and Amy Walters, with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Marcos Bartolomé, Melanie Marich, Sonia Bhagat, Marya Khan, and our guest host, Manuel Rápalo. It was edited by Kylene Kiang. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our video editors are Hisham Abu Salah and Mohannad al-Melhem. Alexandra Locke is The Take's executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube
