U.S. Customs and Border Protection plans to photograph all vehicle passengers exiting the country as part of an expanded facial recognition program that raises questions about privacy and government surveillance.

At a Glance

• CBP intends to photograph everyone leaving the U.S. by vehicle at border crossings to match faces with travel documents
• The initiative will expand current inbound facial recognition technology to outbound lanes at Canadian and Mexican borders
• Over 193 million travelers have been processed using facial recognition so far, identifying more than 1,500 people with false identities
• Testing revealed only 61% success in capturing usable face-matching photos of vehicle passengers
• Officials claim the system will help track self-deportations, though no implementation timeline has been announced

The Evolving Border Surveillance System

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is developing plans to photograph every person leaving the country by vehicle at border crossings. The initiative will expand the agency’s existing facial recognition capabilities from inbound travelers to those exiting through outbound lanes at borders with Canada and Mexico. The program aims to match travelers’ faces with their official travel documents, potentially closing a significant gap in border monitoring as currently there is no comprehensive system for tracking people who leave the country by vehicle.

“Although we are still working on how we would handle outbound vehicle lanes, we will ultimately expand to this area,” said CBP spokesperson Jessica Turner.

The facial recognition initiative is part of a larger effort mandated by the Department of Homeland Security to implement an automated entry and exit data system using biometrics for noncitizens. CBP has been collecting fingerprints and facial photos of travelers since 2004 and has been testing various biometric options over the past decade. The program utilizes the Traveler Verification Service (TVS), a cloud-based system that compares live photos with existing data from passports, visas, and other DHS holdings.

Technical Challenges and Implementation Hurdles

Despite ambitious plans, the technology faces significant challenges. In testing the system for vehicle passengers, CBP achieved only a 61% success rate in capturing photos suitable for facial matching. This technical limitation raises questions about the system’s effectiveness when fully deployed. The outbound face-matching system differs from the inbound version in its primary objective—confirming biometric departure from the United States rather than determining entry purpose and intent.

“The encounter photos can be used for subsequent crossings to verify identity,” explained Turner, highlighting how the database of facial images continues to grow with each border crossing.

Facial biometrics have already been implemented at all international airports, 32 airport exit locations, 26 seaports, and pedestrian lanes at land borders. The technology has processed over 193 million travelers and identified more than 1,500 individuals attempting to enter with false identities. However, expanding this system to vehicle lanes represents a new frontier with unique challenges for the agency.

Self-Deportation Tracking and Privacy Concerns

One of the key motivations behind the expanded facial recognition program is better tracking of self-deportations. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) currently lacks comprehensive tools for monitoring when individuals voluntarily leave the country. While ICE is developing a tool called ImmigrationOS with Palantir Technologies for real-time visibility on self-deportations, the CBP facial recognition system could provide valuable supporting data.

“Not to say it won’t happen in the future, though, with the way self-deportation is going,” noted Turner when discussing potential uses of the technology.

CBP emphasizes that privacy protections are built into the system, including opt-out options for eligible travelers. The agency has published Privacy Impact Assessments and Privacy Act Systems of Records Notices detailing its biometric data handling practices. Additionally, CBP partners such as airlines, airports, and cruise lines that use the technology are prohibited from retaining photos for business purposes and must comply with regular privacy and security audits.

Ongoing Developments and Future Implementation

While the inbound facial recognition system is fully operational, CBP has not announced a specific timeline for implementing the outbound version at vehicle crossings. The agency continues to work with the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the DHS Science and Technology Directorate to improve system accuracy and address concerns about potential racial or demographic bias in facial recognition technology.

CBP reports high match rates across various demographics and regularly tests its systems to ensure reliability. As the technology advances, the agency aims to create a seamless, secure travel process by integrating biometric verification with existing border systems and infrastructure. The ultimate goal is a comprehensive biometric entry-exit system that enhances national security while facilitating legitimate travel across U.S. borders.