CBP to collect fingerprint data from select foreign nationals departing USA

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced that it will begin a new initiative at several airports in which the agency will collect biometric data from select foreign nationals departing the country, according to a report by Lexology.

The initiative, which will run through at least until June 2016, will be initially implemented at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport before expanding to additional airports in Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Newark, New York, San Francisco, and Washington-Dulles.

CBP officers will be on hand at the loading bridge for international flights where they will proceed to scan the fingerprints of selected foreign nationals before they board the airplane.

The agency has not specified whether CBP officers will randomly select the foreign nationals or choose them according to pre-determined criteria.

CBP officials will match the biometric data collected upon departure with the data collected upon the passenger’s entry into the country, and then store the data in a database operated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

The initiative is one of several projects the CBP will launch in support of biometrically recording the departures of foreign nationals in an overall effort to boost national security.

During this latest initiative, the CBP will evaluate the feasibility of using the handheld device to collect biometrics from departing foreign nationals and to perform law enforcement queries used in the inspection process of these individuals.

The CBP already currently collects the biometric data of all foreign nationals arriving in the country during the inspections process.

By collecting biometric data upon departure, the agency will be able to more effectively confirm the identity of any foreign national entering and exiting the country, as well as track and record the exit of temporary visitors to the US.

Previously reported, the Department of Homeland Security announced that the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will update personal information categories in the Border Crossing Information (BCI) System of Records to include the capture of various biometric data including digital fingerprints, photographs and iris scans at the border.

Article Topics

airports  |  biometric exit  |  biometrics  |  border management  |  CBP