All travellers to the United States will now be photographed before entering or leaving the country starting Friday, under new rules from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). In some cases, U.S. border officers will also be able to collect travellers’ fingerprints. The requirements take effect Dec. 26 and apply to everyone who is not a U.S. citizen, including Canadian travellers and diplomats. The DHS says it has collected biometric data from some people entering the United States since 2004, but there was no system to record that information when they left the country. In a document published Oct. 27, the department said the measures are needed to address national-security concerns such as “terrorist threats, the fraudulent use of legitimate travel documents, foreign nationals who stay in the United States beyond their authorized length of stay or who are present in the United States without being admitted. ”Some critics worry the data could be used to track journalists or political opponents. The DHS says the photos will not be used for “broad surveillance purposes.” “The biometric entry-exit system is not a surveillance program,” the department wrote. The DHS will keep the personal data for up to 75 years. The rollout will be gradual and is expected to be completed within three to five years. This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Dec. 26, 2025.
