US Customs and Border Protection New Measure
The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has submitted a new measure that enables the agency to photograph any non-US citizen entering or exiting the country for facial recognition purposes. According to a filing with the government’s Federal Register, the CBP and the Department of Homeland Security aim to combat threats of terrorism, fraudulent use of travel documents, and individuals who overstay their authorized stay.

The filing outlines that the CBP will implement an integrated, automated entry and exit data system to match records, including biographic data and biometrics, of aliens entering and departing the United States. Currently, the government agency has the authority to request photos and fingerprints from individuals entering the country, but this new rule change would also require photos of those exiting. These photos would create galleries of images associated with individuals, including photos taken by border agents and from passports or other travel documents. The galleries would be compared to live photos at entry and exit points.

The new requirements are scheduled to take effect on December 26. However, the CBP will need time to implement a system to handle the increased demand. According to the filing, the agency estimates that a biometric entry-exit system can be fully implemented at all commercial airports and seaports for both entry and exit within the next three to five years.