Border Patrol looking into using 'risk-based' facial recognition tech for US entry

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a Request for Information (RFI) seeking advanced biometric facial capture technology for use at Ports of Entry (POE) and other high-throughput border environments. This technology aims to enhance the efficiency of traveler identity verification while maintaining the integrity of the inspection process.

The envisioned system will enable travelers to move continuously through inspection lanes while their facial images are captured and compared against photos stored in government databases, such as those from passports and visas. The comparison will be handled by CBP's Traveler Verification Service (TVS), which supports biometric entry and exit procedures across air, land, and sea environments. The process is designed to be swift, with identity verification results returned within seconds.

CBP said the fielding of this technology "will enable travelers to proceed in a continuous flow through high-throughput lanes using biometric facial capture to support risk-based segmentation of travelers", according to Biometric Update, a website dedicated to the global biometrics market.

Although all travelers entering and exiting the U.S. are subject to identity checks, CBP only mandates that in-scope foreign nationals have their photos taken upon entry. U.S. citizens and other travelers are not required to have their photos captured when leaving the country.

This initiative is part of CBP's efforts to comply with a Congressional mandate to biometrically record all foreign nationals entering and exiting the U.S. The technology is described as a "touchless process that modernizes air travel and supports travel recovery."

CBP is particularly interested in solutions that address challenges such as lighting variability, facial occlusions, and the need to accommodate travelers of varying heights. The system must comply with DHS cybersecurity and privacy regulations and must not store images locally.

Earlier this week, CBP also announced that it is expanding the geographical location from which migrants can legally apply to enter the country from Mexico, something that could reduce transit flows to the southern border. CBP One, the app through which migrants can apply for an appointment with authorities in ports of entry, will now be available from the Mexican states of Chiapas and Tabasco.