DHS Finally Moves to Implement Biometric Entry/Exit System

For nearly 30 years, Congress has required the federal government to build a system capable of tracking foreign nationals who enter and leave our country. Yet administration after administration ignored or slow-walked this critical national security mandate.

This week, we finally received some long-overdue good news.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has announced the publication of its Final Rule titled “Collection of Biometric Data from Aliens Upon Entry to and Departure from the United States.” In plain terms: DHS is finally moving to implement the entry/exit biometric tracking system Congress demanded decades ago.

And make no mistake—this is a major win for border security.

What the New Rule Will Do

Starting December 26, 2025, U.S. Customs and Border Protection will begin collecting facial biometrics from all foreign nationals entering or leaving the United States. This includes air travel, land ports, seaports, pedestrian crossing points, private aircraft, and vehicle entry/exit points. 

Crucially, this rule removes previous exemptions, including diplomats and most Canadian visitors, and it lifts restrictions on pilot programs so that biometric collection for foreign nationals can expand nationwide.

Public comments on the rule are open until November 26, 2025.

Why This Matters

This system is essential for:

• Identifying criminals and known or suspected terrorists
• Preventing visa fraud and document fraud
• Detecting those who overstay visas
• Blocking illegal reentry of previously removed individuals
• Closing one of the most exploited loopholes in our immigration system

CBP has already developed the Traveler Verification Service, a secure biometric matching system that automates identity checks and reduces burdens on officers. This technology now gives the U.S. a chance to finally enforce the immigration laws already on the books.

In 2017, President Trump issued an Executive Order demanding “expedited” implementation of the biometric entry/exit system. DHS followed with a proposed rule in 2020. Now, after years of delay, the final rule is here.

But implementation is everything. The federal government has dragged its feet on this mandate for nearly three decades. Texans for Strong Borders will continue to monitor, pressure, and publicly hold DHS accountable to ensure this system is not watered down, delayed, or undermined.

What About U.S. Citizens?

This rule does not apply to American citizens. U.S. travelers may voluntarily participate in facial biometric screening or simply request a manual passport inspection.

CBP has also published extensive privacy guidelines and discards U.S. citizen photos within 12 hours. Noncitizen data is retained for up to 75 years—a critical tool for identifying overstays and enforcing removals.

Closing Thoughts

For the first time in decades, the United States is poised to enforce a system that tracks whether foreign nationals actually leave the country when required.

But Texans for Strong Borders knows that technology alone won’t secure our nation.

We need strict immigration enforcement, mandatory E-Verify, and an immigration policy that prioritizes Americans—not corporations, not foreign governments, and not the open-borders lobby.

We will continue fighting to ensure this long-delayed reform is implemented fully, aggressively, and without compromise.