US Expands Use of Facial Recognition Technology at Borders to Track Non-Citizens
By Reuters, Published October 24, 2025
The United States is dramatically expanding its use of facial recognition technology at border crossings to track non-citizens entering and leaving the country. The new regulation, announced in a government document released on Friday, aims to enhance the government’s ability to combat visa overstays and prevent passport fraud.
Starting December 26, 2025, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will have the authority to require non-citizens to be photographed at airports, seaports, land crossings, and any other points of departure. This marks a significant expansion from a prior pilot program and includes provisions allowing authorities to collect other biometric data such as fingerprints or DNA if deemed necessary.
Previously exempt groups, including children under the age of 14 and seniors over 79, will also be included under the new rules. This change reflects a broader effort by the administration of President Donald Trump to tighten immigration controls not only at the US-Mexico border but also through reducing the number of individuals who overstay their visas.
CBP already employs facial recognition technology for all commercial air entries but has limited its exit monitoring to select locations. The new regulation envisions full implementation of a biometric entry-exit system at all commercial airports and seaports, both for arrivals and departures, within three to five years.
The policy update comes amid ongoing debates and concerns about privacy and the accuracy of facial recognition technology. Civil rights groups and watchdog organizations have raised alarms about potential overreach and the risk of misidentification, particularly affecting Black people and other minority groups. A 2024 report by the US Commission on Civil Rights found that facial recognition systems were more prone to errors when identifying these communities.
Visa overstays constitute a significant portion of the undocumented immigrant population in the US. According to a 2023 Congressional Research Service estimate, approximately 42% of the 11 million immigrants living in the country without authorization had originally entered legally but overstayed their visas. Although a 1996 law mandated the establishment of an automated entry-exit tracking system, it has never before been fully implemented on a nationwide scale.
This enhanced biometric tracking system is part of wider immigration enforcement efforts seeking to bolster national security and immigration compliance. However, it balances on a contentious intersection of technology, privacy rights, and immigration policy as it moves toward full deployment.
Background:
Facial recognition technology at US borders has been in limited use with an aim to improve national security and enforce immigration laws. The expanded program includes broadening biometric data collection and removing exemptions for certain age groups, reflecting new priorities in border security under the current administration.
Contact and Confidential Reporting:
Members of the public with information related to the policy changes or affected by new regulations are encouraged to reach out via secure channels provided by media and government organizations to ensure privacy and protection.
Source: The Guardian, Reuters
Photo credit: Joe Raedle/Getty Images (2018, Miami, Florida)
