Opinion ID: 202283
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: 1999 Fingerprint Card

Text: 23 During trial, García objected to the admission of Government's Exhibit 12, a fingerprint card that was signed Roberto G. on the front and stamped USINS, Pittsburgh, PA on the back. Although it was included in Roberto García's Alien Registration File, the card was otherwise lacking a date, an Alien Registration Number, and such identifying information as a date of birth, social security number, height, weight, and FBI number. García objected that the card was untrustworthy because its only authentication was the purported signature of Roberto G. 24 The district court overruled García's objection and admitted the fingerprint card, again noting that the signature on the card appeared to be the same as the signature on the affidavit. Indeed, the similarity in signatures was not the only factor supporting the district court's ruling. The fingerprint card was contained in an Alien Registration File that included a photograph of García. In addition, the stamp appearing on the back of the card, USINS, Pittsburgh, PA, was consistent with other documents in the file indicating that the Roberto García whose photograph was in the file had been in INS custody in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, after he was encountered, but before he was deported, in 1999. There was thus sufficient evidence before the district court to warrant a reasonable person in believing that Government's Exhibit 12 was what it purported to be: namely, a card containing the fingerprints of García.