SANTIAGO, Chile — In a significant move to enhance security and manage migration, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Chile’s Minister of Public Security Luis Cordero signed a letter of intent on July 30, 2025, to launch the Biometric Identification Transnational Migration Alert Program (BITMAP). The agreement, inked in the Chilean capital, aims to bolster cooperation between the two nations by sharing biometric data to track criminals and deter transnational threats.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Secretary Noem emphasized the critical role of biometric data in ensuring public safety. "Data sharing benefits everyone except those criminals and bad actors that may be producing or planning nefarious activities against our citizens," she said. "Biometric data is crucial for vetting, tracking and holding accountable the worst of the worst criminals who pose threats to nations and public safety." This bilateral program represents a strategic effort to identify and monitor individuals who may pose immigration, criminal, or international security risks.
The BITMAP initiative is designed to facilitate the exchange of biometric and biographic information between the United States and partner countries, with an initial focus on Chile. According to the Department of Homeland Security, the program will allow the U.S. to receive data collected within foreign borders, such as fingerprints and iris scans, while reciprocally sharing information on a case-by-case basis. This exchange includes flagging individuals identified as Known or Suspected Terrorists (KSTs), or those involved in criminal activities.
Secretary Noem described the agreement as a "bridge" to foster collaboration between Chile and the United States in bringing criminals to justice. "This arrangement is going to serve as a bridge to help Chile and the United States work towards bringing criminals to justice and knowing who is in our countries perpetuating crimes," she remarked during the ceremony, which was also attended by Chile’s Justice Minister Jaime Gajardo.
The announcement came amid heightened tensions along Chile’s Pacific coast, where thousands of residents were evacuating due to tsunami warnings. Despite the natural disaster concerns, the signing underscored the urgency of addressing transnational crime and migration challenges.
The BITMAP program aligns with ongoing efforts by the Trump administration to strengthen regional cooperation against criminal organizations operating across Latin America. A key focus of this initiative is to combat the notorious Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, which the White House has designated as a foreign terrorist organization. This gang has been linked to a variety of criminal enterprises, including smuggling undocumented migrants, running prostitution rings, trafficking drugs, and committing violent crimes that have destabilized communities in Chile.
Chilean authorities have made significant strides in prosecuting members of Tren de Aragua in recent months, signaling a robust response to the gang’s activities. The bilateral biometric data sharing is expected to enhance these efforts by enabling Chilean officials to identify potentially dangerous migrants entering or exiting the country and to share this information with U.S. law enforcement to prevent their travel to the United States.
“That information will be incredibly important as we go after these criminal activities,” Secretary Noem said, praising the history of intelligence cooperation between the two nations. The partnership is not limited to migration control; it extends to broader law enforcement collaboration aimed at dismantling transnational criminal networks.
One recent example of this cooperation is the joint operation between the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Chilean authorities targeting South American criminal groups responsible for a series of burglaries in the United States and Europe. These crimes targeted multimillion-dollar homes belonging to high-profile celebrities and professional athletes. Several suspects, including Chilean nationals, have been charged in Florida as a result of this investigation.
The BITMAP agreement represents a forward-looking approach to border and security challenges in the Americas. By leveraging biometric technologies, both countries aim to create a more secure environment for their citizens while disrupting the operations of dangerous criminal enterprises.
As migration flows and criminal networks continue to evolve, such international partnerships are becoming increasingly vital. The program not only enhances the capacity of law enforcement but also serves as a deterrent against those who seek to exploit borders for illicit purposes.
While the program is still in its early stages, the commitment from both the United States and Chile signals a shared recognition of the importance of collaborative security measures. As Secretary Noem highlighted, "This increased cooperation between our countries is extremely important to track criminals, terrorists and dangerous individuals."
With the BITMAP initiative, the United States and Chile are setting a precedent for biometric data sharing as a tool for transnational crime prevention, migration management, and public safety enhancement. This partnership could serve as a model for other nations grappling with similar challenges and underscores the growing role of technology in modern law enforcement.
