The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has introduced new border regulations that mandate the collection of photographs of all non-US citizens, including Green Card holders, upon entry and exit from the country. The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will expand its gathering of photographs and biometric data at land, sea, and air entry points to bolster national security efforts and combat the use of counterfeit travel documents. This requirement will come into effect on December 26, 2025, as announced by the DHS.
Under the updated protocol, CBP officers will gather photographs and other biometric details from nearly all non-citizens during their arrivals and departures in the US. Previously exempt age groups, such as individuals under 14 and over 79 years old, will now also be subject to biometric identification as per the new rule.
While CBP currently utilizes facial recognition technology to authenticate passengers on international flights at major US airports, this new regulation mandates its universal application across all entry points. The DHS stated that this expansion will aid in identifying identity fraud, monitoring visa overstays, and fortifying border security measures.
Authorities believe these initiatives will help tackle visa overstay challenges, which were estimated to contribute to 42% of the approximately 11 million unauthorized immigrants in the US in 2023, as reported by Reuters. Despite the US Congress passing a law in 1996 mandating the establishment of an automated entry-exit system, full implementation has not been achieved, according to the agency.
CBP already utilizes facial recognition for all commercial air entries but restricts its use to record exits at specific locations, as per the regulation. The agency estimates that a comprehensive biometric entry-exit system can be operational at all commercial airports and seaports for both entries and exits within the next three to five years.
A database of images linked to individual travelers will be compiled by CBP, incorporating photos from passports, travel documents, and those captured by border officials. These images will be cross-referenced with real-time photos taken at entry and exit points.
This announcement aligns with the current immigration enforcement priorities under the Trump administration, including enhanced resources allocated to the US-Mexico border. Despite the benefits claimed by CBP, the expansion of biometric border checks has sparked concerns regarding privacy and accuracy.
A 2024 US Commission on Civil Rights report raised issues about the higher error rates of facial recognition systems in identifying black individuals and other minorities, potentially exacerbating civil rights challenges. While CBP cites laws enacted over two decades ago to justify data collection, critics argue that the use of facial recognition technology back then was not foreseen.
Cody Venzke, senior policy counsel at the ACLU, criticized the technology, stating, “This technology is unreliable, disproportionately harms people of color, and serves as the foundation for a perpetual surveillance state,” as reported by Bloomberg.