Framing the utility and potential pitfalls of relationship and identity DNA testing across United States immigration contexts
Summary: Genetic information is increasingly used at US border entry points, but the use of DNA in immigration contexts is not new. DNA testing for verification of identity or relationships for visa and asylum petitions began in the 1980s. Long-standing applications demonstrate both the utility and...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2022-01-01
|
| Series: | HGG Advances |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666247721000415 |
| _version_ | 1818585205351383040 |
|---|---|
| author | Diana Madden Brianna A. Baker Jennifer K. Wagner Sara H. Katsanis |
| author_facet | Diana Madden Brianna A. Baker Jennifer K. Wagner Sara H. Katsanis |
| author_sort | Diana Madden |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Summary: Genetic information is increasingly used at US border entry points, but the use of DNA in immigration contexts is not new. DNA testing for verification of identity or relationships for visa and asylum petitions began in the 1980s. Long-standing applications demonstrate both the utility and pitfalls of DNA testing in immigration contexts. Some of these pitfalls are shared with health-related contexts of DNA testing, but the power of government officials to deny immigration benefits, separate families, or make accusations of fraud among a vulnerable population elevates the potential harms, including stigmatization, discrimination, and coerced consent. We conducted semi-structured interviews with professional stakeholders on their understandings of the process of DNA testing, opinions on the role of DNA testing in immigration, and experiences with DNA applications in immigration. From the 22 interviews, we sourced 21 case examples involving DNA testing and supplemented these with 10 case examples provided by the study team. The 31 case examples capture instances of DNA testing for relationship or identity across five immigration contexts. Using the case examples, we developed three overarching utilities and six overarching pitfalls of DNA testing that apply across these immigration contexts. Our framework allows long-standing applications of DNA testing in immigration to inform stakeholders’ approaches to applications in new contexts. As the use of DNA data in immigration contexts expands, its implementation should recognize the utility of DNA data to both migrants and government while guarding against pitfalls that could undermine the human rights and dignity of a vulnerable population. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-16T08:33:22Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-915e0ad565214b3a86f93ea9874e18a1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2666-2477 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-16T08:33:22Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | HGG Advances |
| spelling | doaj.art-915e0ad565214b3a86f93ea9874e18a12022-12-21T22:37:49ZengElsevierHGG Advances2666-24772022-01-0131100060Framing the utility and potential pitfalls of relationship and identity DNA testing across United States immigration contextsDiana Madden0Brianna A. Baker1Jennifer K. Wagner2Sara H. Katsanis3Mary Ann & J. Milburn Smith Child Health Outcomes, Research, and Evaluation Center, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60611-2991, USAStigma, Identity, and Intersectionality Research Lab, Teachers College, Columbia University, New York City, NY 10027, USASchool of Engineering Design, Technology, and Professional Programs, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USAMary Ann & J. Milburn Smith Child Health Outcomes, Research, and Evaluation Center, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60611-2991, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611-2991, USA; Corresponding authorSummary: Genetic information is increasingly used at US border entry points, but the use of DNA in immigration contexts is not new. DNA testing for verification of identity or relationships for visa and asylum petitions began in the 1980s. Long-standing applications demonstrate both the utility and pitfalls of DNA testing in immigration contexts. Some of these pitfalls are shared with health-related contexts of DNA testing, but the power of government officials to deny immigration benefits, separate families, or make accusations of fraud among a vulnerable population elevates the potential harms, including stigmatization, discrimination, and coerced consent. We conducted semi-structured interviews with professional stakeholders on their understandings of the process of DNA testing, opinions on the role of DNA testing in immigration, and experiences with DNA applications in immigration. From the 22 interviews, we sourced 21 case examples involving DNA testing and supplemented these with 10 case examples provided by the study team. The 31 case examples capture instances of DNA testing for relationship or identity across five immigration contexts. Using the case examples, we developed three overarching utilities and six overarching pitfalls of DNA testing that apply across these immigration contexts. Our framework allows long-standing applications of DNA testing in immigration to inform stakeholders’ approaches to applications in new contexts. As the use of DNA data in immigration contexts expands, its implementation should recognize the utility of DNA data to both migrants and government while guarding against pitfalls that could undermine the human rights and dignity of a vulnerable population.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666247721000415ImmigrationethicsELSIkinshiprelationship DNA testingidentity DNA testing |
| spellingShingle | Diana Madden Brianna A. Baker Jennifer K. Wagner Sara H. Katsanis Framing the utility and potential pitfalls of relationship and identity DNA testing across United States immigration contexts HGG Advances Immigration ethics ELSI kinship relationship DNA testing identity DNA testing |
| title | Framing the utility and potential pitfalls of relationship and identity DNA testing across United States immigration contexts |
| title_full | Framing the utility and potential pitfalls of relationship and identity DNA testing across United States immigration contexts |
| title_fullStr | Framing the utility and potential pitfalls of relationship and identity DNA testing across United States immigration contexts |
| title_full_unstemmed | Framing the utility and potential pitfalls of relationship and identity DNA testing across United States immigration contexts |
| title_short | Framing the utility and potential pitfalls of relationship and identity DNA testing across United States immigration contexts |
| title_sort | framing the utility and potential pitfalls of relationship and identity dna testing across united states immigration contexts |
| topic | Immigration ethics ELSI kinship relationship DNA testing identity DNA testing |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666247721000415 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT dianamadden framingtheutilityandpotentialpitfallsofrelationshipandidentitydnatestingacrossunitedstatesimmigrationcontexts AT briannaabaker framingtheutilityandpotentialpitfallsofrelationshipandidentitydnatestingacrossunitedstatesimmigrationcontexts AT jenniferkwagner framingtheutilityandpotentialpitfallsofrelationshipandidentitydnatestingacrossunitedstatesimmigrationcontexts AT sarahkatsanis framingtheutilityandpotentialpitfallsofrelationshipandidentitydnatestingacrossunitedstatesimmigrationcontexts |