OTTAWA — Starting December 26, all non-citizens, including Canadians, will be required to have their photographs taken when entering and exiting the United States. This new policy, announced by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), aims to enhance national security and prevent visa overstays.

The DHS published the updated regulations in the federal register, stating that the photographs will help verify the identities of travelers. The rule allows DHS to collect biometric data from all non-citizens, which may include additional biometric information for those who are not exempt.

The initiative builds on previous DHS efforts initiated in 2020 to gather biometric data from non-residents at U.S. borders. While U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has been collecting biometric data from certain visitors since 2004, there has not been a system in place to collect this data from individuals leaving the country.

The DHS explained that implementing a biometric entry-exit system will help address various national security concerns. These include the threat of terrorism, the fraudulent use of travel documents, and the issue of individuals overstaying their authorized stay in the U.S.

The new system will compare photographs taken upon entry with those collected upon departure. This comparison aims to improve security and make it more difficult for individuals to enter the U.S. using someone else's credentials.

The DHS noted that the photographs could be retained for up to 75 years. However, the full implementation of the entry/exit photography systems at airports and seaports may take three to five years.

Details on how the photographs will be collected have not yet been disclosed. The DHS indicated that different systems would be necessary due to the varying designs of land, air, and sea ports across the country.

Some lawmakers have expressed concerns about privacy issues related to the use of facial recognition technology. A bipartisan group of senators previously advocated for restrictions on the Transportation Security Administration's use of such technology.

As the policy approaches its implementation date, discussions about its potential impact on travelers and privacy rights continue.