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Feds turning to DNA testing in some immigration cases

Associated Press

LOS ANGELES - Federal authorities are increasingly using DNA tests to confirm the identities of certain would-be immigrants, according to companies that perform the tests.

Testing is done in cases where U.S. citizens or green card holders sponsor people they claim are close relatives to immigrate legally. In some instances, documents such as birth, marriage, school or medical certificates are missing or are not enough to convince authorities that the process is free of fraud.

"We've seen quite a dramatic increase," said Jack Anderson, lab director at Andergene Labs in Oceanside. "This is certainly the gateway to keep out those who are not related."

Officials from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and the State Department say they don't keep statistics on DNA testing, but insist it's used infrequently.

"It's more of a last resort when other documentation is missing," said Martin Handman of Citizenship and Immigration Services in Los Angeles.

U.S. citizens can petition for their spouses, parents, children or siblings to immigrate to the U.S., while green-card holders can do so for their spouses and unmarried children.

Although the tests are voluntary, petitions may be rejected if applicants refuse to take them. Some immigration attorneys said they advise their clients to cooperate.

"It removes any doubt," said Aggie R. Hoffman, a Los Angeles immigration lawyer.

Others say the tests, which generally cost $700 to $800, can be prohibitively expensive.


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Information from: Los Angeles Times, http://www.latimes.com