In a sweeping move to tighten border security and combat visa fraud, the Trump administration will require all immigrants and green card holders to undergo biometric screening—including mandatory photographs—when entering or leaving the United States.
In another decisive step under President Donald Trump’s renewed immigration enforcement drive, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced sweeping new biometric regulations requiring all green card holders and foreign nationals to be photographed upon both entry and departure from the United States.
The new rule—officially filed Friday in the Federal Register—is part of the administration’s broader effort to strengthen national security, curb identity fraud, and monitor visa overstays. The measures will take effect on December 26, 2025.
Until now, only certain immigrants and visitors were routinely photographed or fingerprinted upon entry, while exemptions existed for minors under 14 and seniors over 79. Those age limits have now been eliminated, meaning every non-citizen—regardless of age—will undergo mandatory facial imaging.
A Bloomberg report confirmed that Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will use facial comparison technology integrated with passport and visa databases to confirm travelers’ identities with unprecedented precision.
According to DHS, the biometric entry-exit system is intended to close long-standing security loopholes.
“Comparing biometric data of aliens collected upon arrival with data collected upon departure helps address threats ranging from terrorism and document fraud to visa overstays,” the agency stated.
The system will also help track individuals who illegally remain in the country beyond their authorized period—a key target in the administration’s immigration crackdown.
Since returning to the White House in January 2025, President Trump’s second term has brought an aggressive revival of policies aimed at what he calls “restoring the integrity of U.S. borders.”
Among the administration’s major moves:
- Ending birthright citizenship for children of non-citizens.
- Expanding ICE raids nationwide, focusing on “illegal criminal aliens.”
- Implementing mandatory social media vetting for visa and green card applicants—leading to thousands of detentions and visa denials.
Officials argue that the new biometric rules represent a technological evolution of border management. Supporters say it’s a long-overdue modernization of national defense mechanisms. Critics, however, warn that the policy blurs the line between national security and mass surveillance, affecting millions of lawful residents.
Still, Trump officials insist the overhaul is necessary. “We’re using 21st-century technology to ensure the safety of American citizens,” a CBP spokesperson said, emphasizing that the right to security outweighs the privilege of unrestricted entry.
With the new regulations, the United States will operate one of the most comprehensive biometric border control systems in the world—a cornerstone of President Trump’s doctrine of “Fortress America.”
