The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued new guidance requiring foreign nationals—including green card holders and other non-U.S. citizens living legally in the country—to be photographed when they enter or leave the United States. This marks a significant expansion of facial recognition technology at U.S. ports of entry, broadening its use beyond current airport checkpoints to include all transportation modes, such as land and sea crossings.
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) currently employs facial recognition at airport checkpoints, but the updated rule will expand its use to cover every U.S. entry and exit point, including land and sea ports. The change is part of a broader effort to enhance biometric screening and improve identity verification, aiming to combat document fraud and strengthen national security measures.
The new rule amends the DHS regulations to require all aliens to be photographed when entering or exiting the United States and may require non-exempt aliens to provide additional biometric data. The policy also lifts previous age exemptions, allowing facial recognition scans for travelers younger than 14 and older than 79, citing technological advancements and the evolving role of biometrics in identity verification.
The rule, which is set to take effect on Dec. 26, comes as part of the Trump administration’s broader immigration enforcement agenda, which emphasizes expanding border surveillance and tightening entry requirements. Critics have raised concerns about privacy and the potential impact on individuals who may not be criminal offenders but are being subjected to more invasive screening procedures.
While the policy includes a request for public comments on the collection process, as well as costs and benefits for new transportation modalities, it reflects an ongoing push by the administration to modernize border security through technology and data-driven methods. The changes are also seen as part of efforts to improve the tracking and management of foreign nationals, particularly in relation to child trafficking and identity documentation.