At the request of President Donald Trump, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is developing new technology to further protect Americans from foreign attackers.
Under DHS’ new biometric monitoring system, all foreign visitors to the U.S. will be screened with facial recognition software which will “check the identities of departing visitors to ensure they haven’t overstayed visas, aren’t wanted in criminal or terrorist investigations, and to confirm they aren’t trying to leave the country with forged documents,” according to the Christian Science Monitor.
Homeland Security has been screening foreigners entering the U.S. through fingerprints since 2004, but the agency has never had the security software to create a system for foreigners also leaving the U.S. as well.
DHS ran a test-run of the biometric monitoring system at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, where they successfully gathered images of passengers to verify their identities before they boarded flights.
Likewise, DHS’ fingerprint technology has been used at some of the country’s largest airports, but the agency has also tested a security system that captured the irises of foreigners for identification verification at a U.S.-Mexico border crossing.
As to the potential of the security system misidentifying an individual, a DHS Customs and Border Protection (CBP) spokeswoman told the Christian Science Monitor that the biometric system is “building upon existing operational platforms,” ultimately finding “a feasible solution.”
The CBP spokeswoman said the agency is working with other government agencies and private industry partners to make sure the security system is as accurate as possible.
Aside from the new security technology for foreigners entering and leaving the country, the Trump Administration may still be eyeing a move to reinstate the National Security Entry-Exit Registration System (NSEERS) program.
NSEERS was initiated after the 9/11 attacks and it tracked individuals living in the country who had come from regions of the world where terrorism is prevalent, as Breitbart Texas reported. The Obama Administration cancelled the program, claiming it unfairly targeted Muslims.
“The national policy team and the incoming cabinet and administration members are spending a lot of time reviewing potential executive order actions, working through a 100-day plan for particular pieces of legislation that will be coming up,” Trump transition team spokesman Jason Miller told Breitbart News at the time.
John Binder is a contributor for Breitbart Texas. Follow him on Twitter at @JxhnBinder.