Story perspectives

New U.S. Biometric Rules Spark Privacy Concerns for Non-Citizens

10/29/2025

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U.S. Government Surveillance

The U.S. government will photograph all non-citizens entering and leaving the country starting December 26, 2025, to enhance security and track immigration violations.
The Department of Homeland Security will collect biometric data to identify impostors and reconcile traveler information.
U.S. citizens' photos will be discarded within 12 hours, but critics, including the ACLU, raise privacy concerns and argue the technology may disproportionately affect people of color.
Implementation of the new rules may take three to five years.

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CBP Increases Phone Searches

In fiscal year 2025, U.S. Customs and Border Protection increased border phone searches by 17%, to 55,424.
The rise coincides with immigration policies of U.S. President Donald Trump.
International visitors have reconsidered traveling to the United States due to fears of detentions tied to phone content.
CBP has authority to search electronic devices without warrants.
Advanced inspections rely on private firms' tools to access device data, with suspicion required.

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U.S. Government Surveillance

The U.S. government will photograph all non-citizens entering and leaving the country starting December 26, 2025, to enhance security and track immigration violations.
The Department of Homeland Security will collect biometric data to identify impostors and reconcile traveler information.
U.S. citizens' photos will be discarded within 12 hours, but critics, including the ACLU, raise privacy concerns and argue the technology may disproportionately affect people of color.
Implementation of the new rules may take three to five years.

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