The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has begun a program this week that will obtain biometric information of suspected undocumented immigrants attempting U.S. entry through the Mona Passage, a body of water between the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico . According to a DHS press release, the U.S. Coast Guard will compare digital fingerprints and photographs of apprehended immigrants against the US-VISIT database. This database includes information on suspected immigration violators and international criminals. Those apprehended under the program are subject under U.S. law.

“Biometrics make it virtually impossible to use forged documents or claim a fraudulent identity,” said Robert Mocny, acting director of the US-VISIT program. “The Coast Guard’s comparison of biometrics collected at sea to those collected through the US-VISIT program will greatly enhance our ability to intercept those who pose a threat to national security.”

According to DHS, the partnership between the Coast Guard and US-VISIT represents the department’s commitment to deploy, apprehend and prosecute illegal migrants and migrant smugglers. The agency further noted that the project furthers the broader objective to develop a biometric mobile solution for DHS, a step in the U.S. government’s plan to increase border security.