US Mandates Facial Scans for Non-Citizens at All Borders

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Effective December 26, 2025, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) implemented a final rule making facial biometric collection mandatory for all non-U.S. citizens, including Green Card holders and Canadian visitors, at every entry and exit point across air, land, and sea borders. This program, known as the Traveler Verification Service, utilizes secure, cloud-based facial recognition technology to automate identity verification, detect visa overstays, and prevent document fraud. While the process is now a requirement for non-citizens—including previously exempt groups such as children under 14 and adults over 79—the data retention policy differs significantly by citizenship. Non-citizen photographs are enrolled in the DHS Biometric Identity Management System and retained for up to 75 years, whereas U.S. citizen photos are discarded within 12 hours of verification.

U.S. citizens retain a unique legal standing under the new framework: they are not required to participate in the biometric process. Those who prefer to maintain their privacy may simply notify a CBP officer or airline representative to "opt out," at which point they will undergo a traditional manual inspection of their passport to satisfy international travel requirements. Despite this choice for citizens, the system is designed to be the default for all travelers to ensure speed and accuracy. CBP emphasizes that the technology is not used for general surveillance but as a targeted tool to streamline the billions of border crossings recorded annually while strengthening national security.