The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is rolling out enhanced border regulations requiring all non-U.S. citizens, including Green Card holders, to have their photographs taken upon entering and exiting the country. This new policy, scheduled to begin on December 26, 2025, aims to bolster national security and tighten immigration controls. This expansion broadens existing data collection, which previously only applied to specific traveler groups. Now, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will collect biometric data, including photos and potentially fingerprints, at all land, sea, and air ports of entry. The previous exemptions for individuals under 14 and over 79 years of age will be removed, meaning virtually every foreign national will be subject to biometric capture. CBP plans to integrate this new photographic data with information from passports and visa applications, utilizing facial recognition technology to verify identities. This system is designed to combat identity fraud, prevent the use of counterfeit travel documents, and identify individuals who overstay their visas. Officials emphasize that this comprehensive biometric entry-exit system is crucial for national security, helping to detect terrorism, fraudulent documentation, and data discrepancies. The DHS believes this measure will also address the significant issue of visa overstays, which contribute substantially to the undocumented population in the U.S. Civil liberties and privacy advocates have raised concerns, citing studies that indicate facial recognition technology can misidentify minorities disproportionately and potentially lead to a surveillance state. However, CBP maintains that the new system will significantly enhance border security and expects full implementation across major ports of entry within the next three to five years.
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