Smile! Uncle Sam wants to scan your face on the way in – and out
Summary
The Department of Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protection (CBP) finalized a rule published on 27 October 2025 that expands mandatory biometric (photograph) collection for noncitizens to include exit as well as entry. CBP has collected visitor biometrics since 2004, but says there was no comprehensive exit system; the new rule fills that gap and gives the agency authority to photograph all aliens when entering or departing the United States.
Key policy changes: age exemptions (previously under 14 and over 79) have been removed; noncitizen biometric records can be retained for “up to” 75 years; US citizens may opt out and, if photographed, their images are generally held for 12 hours when no issue is found. CBP will use a cloud-based facial comparison tool called the Traveler Verification Service (TVS) to automate identity checks and retention decisions.
CBP says the system will help prevent terrorism, limit travel-document fraud and identify overstays. Critics point to known accuracy and bias problems with facial recognition, real-world false positives reported in public comments, and concerns over long-term retention and enforcement practices.
Key Points
- CBP finalised a rule (27 Oct 2025) requiring photographs of noncitizen travellers on both entry and exit to the US.
- Noncitizen biometric records may be retained for up to 75 years; US citizens who are photographed can have images held for 12 hours if no issue is detected, and citizens may opt out.
- Previous age exemptions have been removed — people of all ages can now be photographed at ports of entry/exit.
- TVS (Traveler Verification Service), a cloud-based facial-comparison system, will make automated determinations about citizenship status and retention, flagging agents where it detects anomalies.
- CBP frames the change as necessary for counter‑terrorism, fraud prevention and immigration enforcement; opponents warn of misidentification, racial bias and wrongful flagging.
- Public comments and prior studies document real risks: false positives, biased error rates for some groups, and cases where facial matches produced problematic outcomes.
Context and relevance
This rule is part of a broader global trend toward routine biometric screening at borders and the automation of identity checks using facial recognition. For travellers, it changes the practical privacy baseline: noncitizen images can remain in government systems for decades. For security and tech sectors, it means increased deployment of cloud-based biometric services and renewed scrutiny over accuracy, bias, auditability and data-retention policy. For civil‑liberties and immigration advocates, it raises questions about oversight, redress for false matches, and how automated decisions shape enforcement actions.
Why should I read this?
If you’re heading to the US, or if you’re into privacy and how governments use AI, this matters — big time. It changes who gets photographed, how long that picture can hang around (hello, 75 years), and how much a machine, not a human, decides whether you look like someone problematic. We read the boring rule for you so you don’t have to — but you should know what it means before you travel.
Author style
Punchy — the story cuts to the implications quickly: long data retention, wider biometric capture, and more reliance on automated facial checks. This is high‑impact for travellers and privacy watchers, so the detail is worth a close read if it affects you or your organisation.
Source
Source: https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2025/10/29/us_foreigner_facial_scans/