ON July 14, 2015, the Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) announced that it will begin testing the collection of biometric exit data of limited foreign national air travelers departing the US at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport using enhanced mobile devices. As you may be aware, the CBP, under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), is tasked with the detection and prevention of illegal entry of aliens in the US, among others.
The CBP will compare the biometrics collected through these mobile devices versus the biometrics collected upon entry of these aliens into the US. Specifically, the CBP personnel will collect the alien’s fingerprint and their passport information. The project seeks to verify the alien’s departure in the US, and their compliance with their authorized period of stay in the US.
Stated otherwise, the CBP wants to accurately determine who arrives in the US and who is abiding with the terms of their admission. The CBP is of the opinion that this will enhance border security while at the same time, facilitate travel. The project will not include US citizens.
The testing project is in response to the Congressional mandate for the CBP to biometrically record the departure of all foreigners from the US. The project will study the feasibility and practically of using mobile devices in collecting biometric exit data and law enforcement queries for use during inspection of these foreigners departing the US.
In its 7/14/2015 announcement, the CBP stated that: “CBP’s Entry/Exit strategy includes three core pillars: identify and close the biographic gaps and enhance the entry-exit system; perform targeted biometric operations; and transform the entry/exit process through the use of emerging biometric technologies.”
Testing will expand to several locations later in the fall, including Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Newark, New York, San Francisco, and Washington-Dulles. The project will run through June 2016. At the end of this exit data collection project, the CBP will analyze the results to determine future plans for biometric exit.
Currently, the CBP already collects departure data of all foreign nationals who depart the US by air and sea.
If you are contemplating of filing any other immigrant or non-immigration application, it is advisable to seek the counsel of an immigration lawyer to guide you on the intricacies of filing for such a petition.
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Atty. Gwendolyn Malaya-Santos is a member of the State Bar of California and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines. To schedule for a free initial in-person consultation, please call Tel. Nos. (213) 284-5984 or (626) 329-8215. Atty. Santos’ office is located at 3450 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1200-105, Los Angeles, CA 90010.
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Information contained in this article does not, nor is it intended to, constitutes legal advice for any specific situation and does not create a lawyer-client relationship. It likewise does not constitute a guarantee, warranty, or prediction regarding the outcome of your legal matter.
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