Starting from Friday, all travelers coming to or leaving the United States will undergo a new procedure requiring them to be photographed by U.S. officials. Additionally, in certain cases, fingerprints of travelers will also be captured.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced these new regulations, which will be applicable to all non-U.S. citizens, including Canadian visitors and diplomats, from December 26 onwards. While the DHS has been collecting biometric information from specific travelers entering the U.S. since 2004, there has been no system in place to record this data when individuals departed the country.
In a published document on October 27, DHS emphasized the significance of these measures in addressing national security concerns, citing reasons such as potential terrorist threats, misuse of valid travel documents, unauthorized stay in the U.S., and presence in the country without admission.
Despite worries regarding the potential misuse of traveler data for tracking journalists or political adversaries, DHS has assured that the photos will not be utilized for widespread surveillance. The department clarified that the biometric entry and exit system is not a surveillance initiative but rather a security measure.
Personal data collected by DHS will be retained for up to 75 years, with the implementation of the program expected to occur gradually over the next three to five years.