Overview
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection will photograph every non‑citizen at airports, seaports, land crossings and other authorized points of departure and entry.
- The rule covers all foreign nationals, including lawful permanent residents, and permits facial recognition for children under 14 and adults over 79.
- Authorities are authorized to collect additional biometrics such as fingerprints or DNA where required under the regulation.
- The policy takes effect December 26, 2025, with CBP estimating full entry‑exit deployment at commercial airports and seaports within three to five years.
- CBP says the system aims to curb visa overstays and document fraud and will build image galleries from agent‑taken photos and travel documents for live matching, as civil‑liberties groups cite privacy and accuracy risks highlighted in a 2024 federal report.