WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Department of Homeland Security has finalized a sweeping new rule that will require facial biometric screening for nearly all noncitizens entering or leaving the United States, a move officials say will bolster national security and modernize identity verification across the nation’s ports of entry.

The Notice of Final Rule, titled “Collection of Biometric Data from Aliens Upon Entry to and Departure from the United States,” was published this week and will take effect Dec. 26, 2025. The regulation authorizes U.S. Customs and Border Protection to collect facial biometrics from foreign visitors at airports, land crossings, seaports, and other designated departure points. It also eliminates longstanding exemptions, including those for diplomats and most Canadian citiz

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