Facial comparison technology introduced at JFK

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials said the agency has introduced biometric facial comparison technology at John F. Kennedy International Airport Terminal 4 to secure and streamline international travel.

“CBP and its partners are implementing facial comparison technology to provide another layer of security and convenience to the traveling public,” New York Director of Field Operations Troy Miller said. “This efficient, accurate, and reliable technology will support highly-trained CBP officers in verifying the identity of international travelers, as is required by federal law.”

The initiative is in conjunction with an effort to implement a Congressional mandate to record the entry and exit of non-U.S. citizens biometrically.

The process involves travelers arriving at Terminal 4 on an international flight pausing for a photo at the primary inspection point, officials said, with CBP’s biometric facial matching service comparing the new photo of the traveler to images the traveler previously provided to the government, such as passport and visa photos.

If a traveler cannot be matched to a photo on record, the CBP officer will process the traveler manually.

CBP officials said facial comparison technology enhances the agency’s ability to facilitate lawful travel and secure the border, noting currently more than 49 million travelers have participated in the biometric facial comparison process at air, land, and sea ports of entry.