Fingerprints taken

The forced taking of fingerprints is a common procedure during border interactions and detentions, often carried out without informed consent or legal representation. For many on the move, the act of taking fingerprints represents a significant threat, as it ties them to particular jurisdictions under the Dublin Regulation, limiting their ability to seek asylum elsewhere. Later, this can potentially destroy the legal possibility of claiming asylum in another European country, seperating you from family or loved ones or trapping you in a country which is not safe for you.

This coercive practice often involves threats (of violence or detention), physical force, or the withholding of basic needs (like food or water) until compliance is achieved. While taking fingerprints is presented as a routine administrative step, in many cases, it becomes a tool of control, contributing to systemic efforts to restrict asylum seekers’ movements and rights. The lack of transparency, combined with the use of force, violates basic rights to privacy and legal protection, as outlined by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and other human rights instruments.