Green Card Holders To Face New Biometric Checks From December

Photo: U.S. Customs and Border Protection

India-West News Desk

WASHINGTON, DC — Beginning December 26, 2025, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will begin photographing all non-U.S. citizens — including green card holders — as they enter and leave the country, under new rules expanding the use of facial recognition technology at borders.

The rule, published in the Federal Register, will require CBP to capture photographs and other biometric data at land, sea, and airport checkpoints. The agency says the move is aimed at strengthening national security, preventing document fraud, and identifying travelers who overstay their visas.

While CBP already collects biometric data from most visitors and visa holders, the new regulation extends mandatory data collection to lawful permanent residents and others previously exempt. It also authorizes the use of facial recognition for children under 14 and adults over 79 — age groups that were previously excluded.

The initiative, first proposed in 2021, is part of the Trump administration’s broader push to expand border security and modernize immigration tracking systems through technology. Officials argue that a fully integrated entry-exit system will help the Department of Homeland Security better monitor non-citizens and close gaps in the immigration process.

CBP acknowledged logistical challenges, particularly at ports of exit lacking dedicated infrastructure, but said advances in facial recognition technology now make full implementation feasible.