CBP implementing El Paso facial biometric technology

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recently introduced biometric facial comparison technology at the El Paso Port of Entry as a means of enhancing security and streamlining travel.

“CBP uses biometric facial comparison technology to create a secure and seamless traveler experience at U.S. Ports of Entry,” CBP El Paso Director of Field Operations Hector Mancha said. “By automating the identity verification process, CBP can process travelers more efficiently while virtually eliminating the ability of criminals to present other people’s legitimate documents as their own for admission to the United States.”

The process involves travelers arriving at a pedestrian Port of Entry with biometric facial comparison technology posing for a photo at the primary inspection point. A CBP officer would then review the traveler’s travel document, which will retrieve the traveler’s passport or visa photo from government holdings.

The live photo of the traveler will be compared to the photo from the travel document. The process only takes a few seconds and is over 97 percent accurate.

CBP installed the technology earlier this month at three of the 14 pedestrian lanes at the Paso Del Norte International Crossing and plans to install the technology at the remaining Paso Del Norte pedestrian lanes, as well as the pedestrian facilities at the Bridge of the Americas and Ysleta Bridge later this year.