10 Dec 2015

U.S. Customs and Border Protection plans to start testing new biometric technology at the Otay Mesa pedestrian crossing to enhance the identification of certain non-U.S. citizens entering and exiting the United States. CBP uses these biometric data to accurately verify who arrives in the U.S. and who leaves. This new technology is being tested to see if CBP can better match entry and exit records along the land border using it and to help protect travelers’ identities against theft.

“CBP is committed to developing a system that provides biometric exit data on non-U.S. citizens in a way that does not disrupt air, sea, or land port operations, but, rather secures and facilitates travel and trade,” said Pete Flores, San Diego Field Operations Director. “This test will help inform on next steps to developing and implementing biometric exit in the land pedestrian environment.”