Trump administration rolls out new travel rules for all foreigners, including Green Card holders | Explained

DHS issues new travel rule for all foreigners, including green card holders

The United States plans to photograph every non-citizen entering and exiting the country, citing advancements in facial recognition technology, as part of President Donald Trump’s broader immigration crackdown.

According to a filing by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in the Federal Register on Friday, the expanded biometric entry-exit system will cover airports, seaports, and land crossings. The move aims to combat fraudulent travel documents, visa overstays, and improve national security.

“Implementing an integrated biometric entry-exit system that compares biometric data of aliens collected upon arrival with biometric data collected upon departure helps address the national security concerns arising from the threat of terrorism, the fraudulent use of legitimate travel documentation, aliens who remain in the United States beyond their period of authorized stay (overstays) or are present in the United States without being admitted or paroled, as well as incorrect or incomplete biographic data for travelers," CBP stated.

The regulations will apply to all non-U.S. citizens, including immigrants, green card holders, and illegal immigrants. The system also permits the use of facial recognition for children under 14 and seniors over 79, who are currently exempt.

While CBP already collects photos and fingerprints from visitors, immigrants, and some U.S. citizens, this would be the first time such data is systematically collected on exit. Other biometric data, including fingerprints or DNA, may also be required.

Set to take effect on December 26, 2025, the system will allow authorities to create galleries of images linked to individuals, drawn from border agents, passports, or other travel documents, to be compared with live photos at entry and exit points.

Although initially proposed in 2021, the new measures are a key part of the Trump administration’s strategy to strengthen border security and prevent illegal immigration using advanced technology. Experts have raised concerns about DHS’s efforts to access additional data, including from the Social Security Administration and the IRS.

CBP acknowledged challenges in implementing the system without dedicated secure exit lanes but stated that improvements in facial recognition now make this feasible. The administration emphasizes that the integrated system will make it easier to monitor visa overstays and individuals attempting to circumvent immigration rules, enhancing the overall effectiveness of border enforcement.