Starting December 26, the United States will enforce the most stringent customs checks in recent history for all non-citizens entering or leaving the country, including legal permanent residents, commonly known as green card holders.
This initiative, as reported by outlets such as Univision, is part of a nationwide expansion of the biometric entry and exit system. This system aims to detect immigration fraud, identify violations of residency rules, and bolster border security.
According to regulatory documents first released on November 20, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will remove age exemptions and authorize Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers to collect fingerprints, facial scans, and, in some law enforcement scenarios, DNA samples from all foreign travelers, including permanent residents.
The regulation also introduces a $30 fee for stays exceeding 29 days, with penalties that can reach up to $5,000 for non-compliance.
Experts indicate that the new rules are intended to verify whether permanent residents obtained their status legitimately. Immigration attorney Luis Victoria explained to Univision, "These new regulations aim to scrutinize permanent residents more thoroughly to determine if their residency was obtained through fraudulent means."
Among the most suspicious cases are sham marriages, a type of fraud actively pursued by authorities.
Biometric checks will extend beyond airports. CBP plans to install facial recognition gates at several of the country's busiest terminals and deploy kiosks for iris and fingerprint capture at numerous land crossings.
Frequent travelers, including those entering from Canada and Mexico, may encounter longer lines during the program's rollout.
The DHS states that this expansion fulfills a 1996 Congressional mandate, although its implementation has been expedited under the current administration.
Authorities argue that the unified biometric system will close verification gaps that, according to official estimates, allow 42% of the undocumented population growth to result from overstayed visas.
The program permits the retention of collected biometric data for up to 75 years and the sharing of this information with other federal security agencies, a measure that has already prompted criticism from privacy advocates who warn it could normalize routine genetic data collection.
However, the DHS maintains that DNA samples will only be used in "specific investigative scenarios."
Permanent residents should be particularly mindful if they have engaged in activities that could raise suspicion during these new checks:
- Spending more than a year outside the U.S.
- Obtaining residency through fraudulent means
- Committing crimes after receiving a green card
Although the policy does not directly alter the legal residency requirements, it significantly elevates the level of scrutiny at the country's entry points.
With these new regulations, the United States moves towards a more stringent and technologically integrated border system, necessitating that permanent residents undergo much more rigorous checks each time they cross the border, even for brief or routine trips.
Understanding the New Customs Checks for Green Card Holders
What is the purpose of the new biometric system for green card holders?
The new biometric system aims to detect immigration fraud, identify residency rule violations, and enhance border security by collecting biometric data from non-citizens, including permanent residents.
How might frequent travelers be affected by these new regulations?
Frequent travelers, especially those entering from Canada and Mexico, may face longer lines and more thorough checks as the new program is implemented.