# Could we RFID illegal aliens?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-we-rfid-illegal-aliens/298399>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [April 8, 2005, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-we-rfid-illegal-aliens/298399 "2005-04-08T15:37:56Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\
**Post date:** [April 12, 2005, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-we-rfid-illegal-aliens/298399/41 "2005-04-12T02:40:27Z")

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> [@Steve MB](#):
>
> Besides all the other objections already raised, there’s the little fact that **it won’t work**. RFID tags are **short** (as in a few centimeters) ranged devices – “sweep of an agricultural area”, indeed.

Actually, some scanners can read passive RFID tags [at ranges up to 9 meters](http://www.rfidgazette.org/2004/06/rfid_101.html), but your point is well taken; hardly useful for detecting trans-border migration with any efficiency.

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**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\
**Post date:** [April 12, 2005, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-we-rfid-illegal-aliens/298399/42 "2005-04-12T04:46:19Z")

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> [@Steve MB](#):
>
> Besides all the other objections already raised, there’s the little fact that **it won’t work**. RFID tags are **short** (as in a few centimeters) ranged devices – “sweep of an agricultural area”, indeed.

I was thinking that, but I wasn’t sure if there was some monster RFID tech that I hadn’t heard of, so I didn’t want to speak up.

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