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30 B.C. Third World L.J. 239 (2010)
Brave New World: The Use and Potential Misuse of DNA Technology in Immigration Law

handle is hein.journals/bctw30 and id is 243 raw text is: BRAVE NEW WORLD: THE USE AND POTENTIAL MISUSE OF DNA TECHNOLOGY IN IMMIGRATION LAW JANICE D. VILLIERS* Abstract: DNA technology revolutionized criminal law, family law and trust and estates practice. It is now revolutionizing immigration law. Cur- rendy the Department of Homeland Security does not require DNA tests, but it recommends these tests when primary documentation, such as marriage licenses, birth certificates and adoption papers are not available to prove the relationship between the U.S. citizen petitioner and the beneficiary who is seeking permanent resident status in the United States. DNA tests are attractive to the government as a result of administrative convenience and as a means of countering fraud, but adoption of a wholesale policy of DNA testing poses a host of potential problems. In an area of law where family reunification is described as the primary goal, an increase in the use of DNA sometimes results in separating families and other unintended consequences. By promoting the use of DNA evidence, the social interests that are paramount in a family relationship could be- come subservient to genetic interests. The beneficiaries could become mere genetic entities, whose biological relationship through their genes is paramount. This promotes the view that shared genes are the principal means of identifying human relationships and that one should be entitled to legal benefits solely on this basis. Quality control in the collection, stor- age and testing of samples, access of individuals to testing facilities, espe- cially in developing countries, privacy interests and the potential for mis- use of the results of these tests, particularly in preventing the admission of aliens on health grounds are among the potential problems identified in this article. Using examples from disciplines where DNA evidence has been adopted--criminal, family and estates and trusts law-this article will present a workable policy for the use of this technology in immigra- tion law. *Associate Professor, St. John's University School of Law. J.D., Columbia University School of Law, 1989; M.A., New York University, 1979; B.A., Pace University, 1975. I thank my research assistants Katherine Shepherd, Elizabeth Olacio and Gene Lerner for their invaluable work on this project and my colleagues, Associate Dean Margaret V. Turano and Professor Elaine M. Chiu for their encouragement, ideas and comments. I am also in- debted to Millicent Clarke, Esq. for her comments. Last but not least, I would like to thank my daughter, Janelle McCarthy whose love of the field of genetics inspired this research.

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