US Customs and Border Protection Plans to Photograph Everyone Exiting the US by Car

Published: Friday, May 9, 2025 at 5:12 pm

US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is planning to photograph every person exiting the United States by vehicle at border crossings with Canada and Mexico. This new initiative aims to match passengers' faces with their travel documents, mirroring the existing program for those entering the country. While the agency currently lacks a system to monitor outbound travelers by vehicle, CBP spokesperson Jessica Turner confirmed the expansion is planned, though a timeline is unavailable.

This move comes as the Trump administration intensifies its focus on self-deportation, encouraging individuals in the country illegally to leave voluntarily. The agency is also exploring ways to improve its ability to capture and match photos, as a recent test showed a 61% success rate in capturing photos of everyone in a vehicle.

Simultaneously, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is developing a tool called ImmigrationOS with Palantir, aiming to provide near real-time visibility on self-deportations. This system could potentially integrate data from various sources, including investigative records and government databases, to track individuals' travel history and physical attributes. While CBP hasn't confirmed integration with ImmigrationOS, the potential for data sharing raises privacy concerns. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has noted the legal requirement to monitor departures of non-citizens.

The Trump administration's actions, including revoking legal status for hundreds of thousands and offering financial incentives for self-deportation, highlight the urgency of this initiative.

BNN's Perspective: While the government's interest in securing borders and tracking departures is understandable, the expansion of surveillance raises significant privacy concerns. The potential for data integration and the targeting of specific groups warrant careful oversight and transparency to ensure civil liberties are protected. The government should be transparent about how the data will be used and stored.

Keywords: CBP, Customs and Border Protection, border security, self-deportation, vehicle exit, photo surveillance, travel documents, ImmigrationOS, Palantir, ICE, Trump administration, immigration, privacy, border crossings, Canada, Mexico, biometric data, DHS, Jessica Turner.

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