I 
118TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 4546 
To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to expand the requirements 
for the collection of biometric data, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 11, 2023 
Mr. GOODEN of Texas (for himself, Mr. ELLZEY, Mr. DONALDS, Mr. BABIN, 
and Mrs. MILLER of Illinois) introduced the following bill; which was re-
ferred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Com-
mittee on Homeland Security, for a period to be subsequently determined 
by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall 
within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to expand 
the requirements for the collection of biometric data, 
and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Biometric Verification 
for Entry and Reconfirming Identity with Forensics Act 
of 2023’’ or the ‘‘B–VERIFY Act of 2023’’. 
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SEC. 2. COLLECTION OF BIOMETRIC INFORMATION FOR IM-
MIGRATION BENEFITS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Title I of the Immigration and 
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.) is amended by 
inserting after section 106 the following: 
‘‘SEC. 107. COLLECTION OF BIOMETRIC INFORMATION. 
‘‘(a) REQUIREMENT FOR IMMIGRATION BENEFITS.— 
Each individual, whether an alien (including a VAWA self- 
petitioner and an alien admitted or seeking admission 
under section 101(a)(15)(T)) or a national of the United 
States, who files or is the proposed beneficiary of an appli-
cation or petition for an immigration benefit, shall provide 
biometric information to the Secretary of Homeland Secu-
rity or Secretary of State, at a time and in a manner pre-
scribed by the applicable Secretary. 
‘‘(b) COLLECTION FROM ALIENS APPREHENDED BY 
CBP, ICE, OR USCIS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Homeland 
Security shall collect biometric information from 
each alien, including children, encountered by U.S. 
Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and 
Customs Enforcement, or U.S. Citizenship and Im-
migration Services. 
‘‘(2) DNA TEST RESULTS.—In carrying out the 
collection of biometric information under paragraph 
(1), the Secretary shall collect DNA test results, 
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which include a partial DNA profile, for the purpose 
of determining the existence of a claimed genetic re-
lationship. The Secretary shall use and store such 
DNA test results for an associated adjudication or 
to perform any other functions necessary for admin-
istering and enforcing the immigration laws. 
‘‘(c) AUTHORIZED USES OF BIOMETRIC INFORMA-
TION.—The Secretary shall use biometric information col-
lected under this section— 
‘‘(1) to perform criminal history and national 
security background checks; 
‘‘(2) for identity enrollment, verification, and 
management in the immigration lifecycle; 
‘‘(3) for secure document production associated 
with certain immigration and naturalization benefits 
or actions; and 
‘‘(4) to administer and enforce the immigration 
laws. 
‘‘(d) LIMITATION ON ISSUANCE OF BENEFITS.—The 
Secretary may not provide an immigration benefit, and the 
Secretary of State may not issue a visa, to an alien prior 
to the collection of biometric information under subsection 
(a).’’. 
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(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents 
of the Immigration and Nationality Act is amended by in-
serting after the item related to section 106 the following: 
‘‘107. Collection of biometric information.’’. 
SEC. 3. BIOMETRIC DEFINED. 
Section 101(a) of the Immigration and Nationality 
Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)) is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘(53) The term ‘biometric’ means a measurable 
biological (anatomical and physiological) or behav-
ioral characteristic used for identification of an indi-
vidual, and includes— 
‘‘(A) a fingerprint; 
‘‘(B) a palm print; 
‘‘(C) a photograph (including a facial 
image specifically for facial recognition, as well 
as a photograph of a physical or anatomical 
feature such as a scar, skin mark, or tattoo); 
‘‘(D) a signature; 
‘‘(E) a voice print; 
‘‘(F) an iris image; and 
‘‘(G) DNA (including DNA test results, 
which include a partial DNA profile attesting to 
genetic relationship).’’. 
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