Noncitizens to undergo biometric screenings at ports of entry
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A new rule that will soon go into effect will allow U.S. Customs and Border Protection to take biometric photos of non-U.S. citizens leaving the country.
The new requirement will go into effect at ports of entry on Friday, Dec. 26.
A CBP news release said the agency will be able to collect facial biometrics from all noncitizens upon entry and exit at airports, land ports, seaports and other authorized ports of departure.
CBP will be using facial recognition cameras to compare the person's face with their travel documents.
U.S. citizens are not required to participate.
“This milestone regulation advances DHS’s efforts to implement a comprehensive biometric entry/exit program, enhancing national security and streamlining identity verification processes for foreign visitors traveling to and from the United States,” CBP said in a news release.
Channel 5 News reached out to U.S. Customs and Immigration Service for comment. A spokesperson provided the following statement in full:
“The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) that would change regulations on how we receive and use biometrics to administer and enforce immigration and naturalization laws and adjudicate immigration applications, petitions, or benefit requests or for any other related request or collection of information. Enhancing biometrics for identity verification and management will assist DHS’s efforts to combat trafficking, confirm the results of biographical criminal history checks, and deter fraud.”
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