Tourism
Proposed Trump Administration Rule Wants to Collect DNA From Foreign Tourists Entering the U.S.
A proposed rule reportedly published in the United States Federal Register has sparked fresh global debate after claims emerged that the U.S. government is considering requiring DNA samples from foreign tourists seeking to enter the country.
According to commentary circulating online, the proposal is linked to immigration and border-screening policies associated with the administration of former President Donald Trump.
The rule, as described, would significantly expand the information collected from foreign nationals applying for U.S. visas or seeking entry under visa waiver arrangements.
What the Proposal Claims
The alleged rule would go beyond existing requirements such as disclosure of social media history over a five-year period and detailed personal information about family members. Under the proposal, foreign tourists could also be asked to provide DNA samples, potentially through saliva or blood, although no specific method has been outlined.
Commentators reviewing the document say the provision appears aimed at building a large DNA database of foreign visitors and, by extension, their relatives.
The proposal is reportedly subject to a 60-day public comment period, a standard step in U.S. rulemaking before any policy can be finalised or enforced.
Privacy and Legal Concerns
If confirmed, the proposal would mark a dramatic escalation in biometric data collection at U.S. borders. Civil liberties advocates and privacy experts have long warned that expanded biometric surveillance—especially DNA, which contains deeply personal and familial information—raises serious ethical, legal, and human rights concerns.
DNA data differs significantly from fingerprints or facial recognition, as it can reveal genetic relationships, health predispositions, and ancestry, creating risks far beyond immediate identity verification. Critics argue that such data, once collected, could be stored indefinitely and potentially shared across agencies, increasing the risk of misuse or breaches.
Global Implications
For millions of travellers worldwide, including Africans who regularly visit the United States for tourism, education, business, and family reasons, the proposal has triggered anxiety and confusion. Several immigration analysts note that a DNA requirement could deter travel, complicate visa processing, and strain diplomatic relations with countries whose citizens may see the measure as invasive or discriminatory.
The United States already operates one of the world’s most extensive biometric border systems, collecting fingerprints and photographs from most non-citizens on arrival. Expanding this to DNA would place the country among a very small group of nations attempting such deep biological surveillance of visitors.
Not Yet Policy
It is important to note that the proposal, as described, does not automatically translate into law or immediate practice. Rules published in the Federal Register often change substantially—or are withdrawn entirely—after public comment, legal review, and political scrutiny.
As of now, U.S. authorities have not publicly detailed how DNA would be collected, stored, protected, or limited in use, leaving critical questions unanswered.
What Comes Next
Observers say the coming weeks will be crucial, as public feedback, legal challenges, and political reactions shape the fate of the proposed rule. For travellers around the world, the development underscores growing global tensions between national security policies and personal privacy in an era of expanding surveillance technologies.
Whether the proposal advances or stalls, the debate it has ignited is likely to have lasting implications for how countries balance border control with fundamental rights in the age of data-driven governance.
Taste GH
Kuli Kuli: The Crunchy Peanut Snack That Travels Across Ghana’s Streets With Ease
There’s a particular sound that follows Kuli Kuli down Ghana’s streets—the sharp, satisfying crunch that announces its presence long before the first bite.
Made from roasted groundnuts pressed into golden sticks or small clusters, this humble snack has earned a permanent place in everyday eating across the country.
Kuli Kuli carries the deep, nutty aroma of roasted peanuts, often enriched with a subtle kick of spice depending on who prepares it. Its texture is firm and crisp, breaking cleanly between the teeth and leaving behind a rich, earthy flavour that lingers. While simple in ingredients, it delivers a depth that makes it hard to eat just one piece.
Across Ghana, Kuli Kuli is more than a snack—it’s part of the rhythm of daily life. It shows up in woven baskets at lorry stations, in transparent bowls on street corners, and in the hands of schoolchildren heading home.
Traders often pair it with roasted groundnuts or sell it alongside other street favourites, making it an easy grab for commuters, workers, and travellers.
For many, it is a quiet companion during long journeys or busy afternoons. It is filling enough to take the edge off hunger, yet light enough to eat on the move. Visitors to Ghana often discover it unexpectedly, handed over in paper wraps or sold from roadside stalls where it sits alongside familiar street foods.
Beyond its taste and convenience, Kuli Kuli also carries a health appeal rooted in its primary ingredient—groundnuts. Rich in protein and healthy fats, it has long been considered a wholesome snack in many households, especially in communities where peanuts are a dietary staple.
Simple, durable, and deeply familiar, Kuli Kuli remains one of those foods that tells a story of resourcefulness and everyday Ghanaian life—one crunchy bite at a time.
Sights and Sounds
Echoes of the Atlantic: A Walk Through the Living History of Jamestown
The salt-heavy breeze of the Gulf of Guinea tangles with the scent of woodsmoke and freshly grilled tilapia as you step into the labyrinthine alleys of Jamestown.
Above, the scarlet and white stripes of the iconic 1930s lighthouse pierce a hazy blue sky, standing as a silent sentry over a neighborhood that refused to be forgotten. To walk these streets is to feel the heartbeat of Accra—raw, rhythmic, and fiercely soulful.
Here, the past doesn’t sit behind glass; it lives in the peeling paint of colonial storefronts and the vibrant mural-lined walls that serve as the community’s open-air canvas.
The geography of Jamestown is a visual timeline of Ghana’s evolution. At the edge of the Atlantic, the Ga Mashie community thrives around the bustling fishing harbor.
From the vantage point of the old harbor walls, you can watch hundreds of hand-painted wooden pirogues, draped in colorful flags, bobbing on the surf as fishermen haul in the morning’s catch. Just a stone’s throw away, the somber, whitewashed walls of Ussher Fort and James Fort provide a stark architectural contrast.
These structures, remnants of Dutch and British colonial presence, offer a heavy but necessary reflection on the transatlantic slave trade, their dungeons echoing with centuries of history that shaped the modern world.
A walking tour here is an exercise in sensory immersion. One moment, you are navigating the narrow “Brazil House” lane, learning about the Tabom people—formerly enslaved Afro-Brazilians who returned to their ancestral home—and the next, you are surrounded by the chaotic energy of a street-side boxing gym.
Jamestown is the undisputed pugilist capital of West Africa; the rhythmic thud of gloves against heavy bags is as much a part of the local soundtrack as the highlife music drifting from corner bars.
Visitors shouldn’t miss the chance to climb the lighthouse for a panoramic view that captures the duality of the city: the old colonial footprint dissolving into the rising glass skyscrapers of the modern business district.
Jamestown demands that you slow down and engage. It is a place where a simple “Agooo” (the local way of asking for passage or attention) opens doors to hidden courtyard cafes and artisan workshops.
By the time the sun begins to dip, painting the harbor in hues of molten gold and violet, you realize that Jamestown isn’t just a destination on a map; it is a masterclass in resilience and the enduring power of community.
Taste GH
Golden, Airy, Irresistible: The Simple Magic of Bofrot
No elaborate fillings. No icing. Just nutmeg, a whisper of sugar, and decades of street-side perfection.
There’s a moment just before dawn in Accra when the air changes—still thick with harmattan dust but suddenly split by the sweet, yeasty whisper of bofrot hitting hot oil. That scent is an alarm clock no one resists.
For the uninitiated: bofrot is Ghana’s golden-fried dough ball, airy as a cloud, crisp on the outside, and tender within. No elaborate fillings. No icing. Just nutmeg, a whisper of sugar, and decades of street-side perfection.
Vendors pile them high in woven baskets near lorry parks, school gates, and market corners. A small bag costs pocket change, yet it fuels everyone from office workers to toddlers tugging at their mothers’ skirts.
Unlike heavier doughnuts, bofrot is surprisingly light—no greasy linger. It’s vegan by tradition, making it an accidental ally for plant-based travelers.
You’ll see Ghanaians tearing pieces to dip into koko (spiced millet porridge) at breakfast or eating them plain as a 4 p.m. pick-me-up. At weddings and outdoorings (naming ceremonies), bofrot arrives in pyramids, a quiet symbol of hospitality and joy.
@akosuahstastyrecipe NO FAIL GHANAIAN BOFROT🇬🇭 ✅INGREDIENTS 3 cups hard flour 1 cup sugar 1 pack instant yeast 1/2 teaspoon salt 1-2 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon grated nutmeg 1 and half cup lukewarm water 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Oil for frying ✅NOTE Please make sure the water you will use for the yeast is lukewarm not hot #ghanatiktok🇬🇭 #fyp #foodblogger #viral_video #accra #foodies #homemade #bofrot #puff #puffpuff #doughnut @Flottycastiron_and_kitchen ♬ Big Baller – Flavour
Visitors often ask, “Is it just puff puff?” Close, but not quite. Bofrot has a tighter crumb, a deeper caramel blush, and a distinct Ghanaian soul.
Try one from a Mamprobi street cart, steam still rising. You’ll understand why no recipe book can replicate the rhythm of the woman who’s flipped a million of them—her wrist flicking dough into oil like she’s telling time. That’s the real secret.
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