Overview
- DHS and CBP published a Federal Register rule requiring photographs of every non‑citizen at airports, seaports, land crossings and other departure points to curb visa overstays and document fraud.
- The policy applies to all non‑U.S. citizens, including immigrants living in the country and green card holders, and it authorizes collection of additional biometrics such as fingerprints or, in some cases, DNA.
- CBP may use facial recognition for groups previously exempted, including children under 14 and people over 79, expanding beyond current practice that already covers all commercial air entries.
- A new 30‑day comment period begins October 27, and the regulation is scheduled to take effect on December 26, 2025.
- CBP projects full entry‑exit deployment at commercial airports and seaports within three to five years, as civil‑rights groups warn about privacy risks and misidentification of minorities documented by federal watchdogs.