DNA in Immigration and Human Trafficking

One of the very first applications of genetic identity markers was to establish biological connections for an immigration case. Several decades later, the use of forensic DNA to establish identity and to verify claimed relationships has expanded around the globe to improve border security measures, to detect fraud, and to investigate cases of human trafficking. But it also raises substantial questions around ethical applications of the technology and the potential for abuse of the technology, leading to stigmatization or discrimination. This chapter reviews the myriad applications of DNA in immigration contexts in a rapidly expanding political and migratory population.