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Biometric Capability Expands at U.S. Airports

Several airports with international arrivals will add advanced facial recognition solution, easing entry process.

A U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer at Dulles International Airport in Virginia holds up a camera used for facial biometric process. The agency is deploying biometric identity solutions to six more international airports in the southern United States. Credit: CBP

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection is adding biometric facial recognition capabilities to six more U.S. airports in five southern states, the agency announced on January 24. The Customs and Border Protection, or CBP, will add its Simplified Arrival capability to Rogers Municipal Carter Field Airport, Arkansas; Lakefront Airport, Louisiana; Alexandria International Airport, Louisiana; Gulfport Biloxi International Airport, Mississippi; Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport, Alabama; and Memphis International Airport, Tennessee.

Used with international arrivals, the Simplified Arrival process relies on facial biometric technology and artificial intelligence to automate manual document checks required for admission into the United States. The capability enables travelers to use a touchless process that further secures and streamlines their arrival while fulfilling the longstanding congressional mandate to biometrically record the entry and exit of all non-U.S. citizens into the country, the Department of Homeland Security agency reported.

"CBP is excited to partner with these airports to expand the use of facial biometrics for international arrivals," said Steven Stavinoha, director, Field Operations, New Orleans Field Office. "This enhanced process is secure, touchless and supports the travel recovery efforts, while protecting the privacy of travelers."

Currently, 199 airports are using the biometric solution for travelers entering into the country and 32 locations have it employed for international departures. The CBP is working to add more air exit airport partners each month and says that it is seeing an “overwhelmingly positive” response from travelers.

“Simplified Arrival only uses the biometric facial comparison process at a time and place where travelers are already required by law to verify their identity by presenting a travel document,” the agency stated. “When travelers arrive at one of these six airports on an international flight, they will pause for a photo at the primary inspection point. CBP’s biometric facial comparison process will compare the new photo of the traveler to a small gallery of high-quality images that the traveler has already provided to the government, such as passport and visa photos. In addition, foreign travelers who have traveled to the U.S. previously may no longer need to provide fingerprints as their identity will be confirmed through the touchless facial comparison process.”

The solution employs one of the industry’s highest ranked facial comparison algorithms—as assessed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology—along with trained CBP officers who are skilled at verifying the authenticity of travel documents. If a traveler cannot be matched to a photo on record using the Simplified Arrival process, the traveler goes through the traditional inspection process consistent with existing requirements for entry into the United States. In addition, travelers can opt out of the biometric processes and instead go through the traditional process by notifying CBP officers when they approach primary inspection points.

The CBP reported that 130 million travelers have participated in the biometric facial comparison process at U.S. air, land and seaports of entry. Moreover, the agency’s use of the solution has prevented nearly 2,000 imposters from illegally entering the United States by catching their improper use of genuine travel documents that were issued to other people.