Amid Trump’s immigration crackdown, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced a new rule that will make it compulsory for all immigrants and non-citizens to be photographed when entering or leaving the United States, Bloomberg reported. The new rule, issued by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on Friday, will be an add-on to the existing system of biometric checks that was earlier limited to specific travellers and regions.
US expands biometric checks for non-citizens at borders
The new rule will set up a nationwide system to collect data from non-citizens at all entry and exit points. This includes all airports, seaports, or land borders. It’s one of the biggest steps the US has taken in recent years to strengthen its border checks and surveillance.
The regulation comes as part of the Trump administration’s effort to tighten immigration procedures and increase data collection on foreign nationals. The administration has already introduced an immigrant registry system and has authorised the use of taxpayer data for enforcement actions.
A 2023 report from the Congressional Research Service states that around 42% of the 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the US had originally entered legally and later overstayed their visas, Guardian reported.
The new regulation also allows border officers to use facial recognition for individuals who were previously exempted, including children under 14 and adults over 79. The move, officials say, is intended to ensure consistent identity verification for all travellers.
All immigrants and foreign visitors to be photographed under new DHS rule
According to DHS, the new biometric data collection is meant to tighten national security, prevent document fraud, and address the issue of visa overstays, a continuous challenge for US immigration authorities.
CBP has been gathering biometric data from certain non-citizens since 2004, but the new rule advances in facial recognition. Comparison technology now allows authorities to match a traveller’s photograph with passport or visa records in real time.
This system, also known as “Simplified Arrival,” is already used at several airports across the country for passengers entering the US. CBP says it plans to extend this program to cover both entry and exit screenings at all commercial airports and seaports within the next three to five years, according to Bloomberg.
Congress first mandated the creation of such a system back in 1996, but technical and logistical challenges have delayed its full rollout for decades. Experts have long warned that technical glitches could lead to cases of misidentification.
The regulation will take effect on December 26, and DHS will open a new 30-day public comment period after its publication in the Federal Register on October 27.