It's official | The United States will require all Green Card immigrants to meet this new requirement to enter and exit the country - El Cronista
Key Takeaways
- It has been reported that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will expand biometric entry/exit checks to include all lawful permanent residents (Green Card holders).
- The change would add mandatory biometric screening (fingerprints and/or facial recognition) at ports of entry and departure, alongside the Green Card and passport.
- Affected travelers may face new processing steps, possible delays, and additional privacy concerns; failure to comply could trigger secondary inspection.
- The policy has been discussed for years as part of CBP's entry/exit modernization; travelers should watch for official DHS/CBP/USCIS announcements and prepare travel documents accordingly.
Reported expansion of biometric checks
It has been reported that DHS plans to require biometric entry and exit checks—fingerprints, facial scans, or both—for all lawful permanent residents (LPRs), commonly called Green Card holders, when they leave and re-enter the United States. CBP (U.S. Customs and Border Protection) has been rolling out biometric systems at airports, land ports and seaports for several years; this report describes an extension of those checks to include every immigrant with an I‑551 (Green Card). Because the details are drawn from media reporting rather than a formal DHS release, the proposal should be treated as unconfirmed until published in rulemaking or an official notice.
Who is affected and why it matters
If implemented, the requirement would affect the more than 13 million lawful permanent residents and any immigrants who travel internationally while holding LPR status. Biometric collection is designed to confirm identity and better track entries and exits—part of DHS’s long‑standing entry/exit modernization program—but it also changes the practical experience of travel. Travelers can expect an extra step at immigration counters or dedicated kiosks and, in some cases, longer lines or secondary inspections if biometrics do not match records. There are also privacy and civil‑liberties concerns that many advocates have raised about expanded facial recognition and data retention.
Practical advice and context
Green Card holders should keep both their I‑551 and a valid passport from their country of citizenship current, allow extra time at ports of entry, and monitor official DHS, CBP and USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) channels for confirmation and implementation guidance. Historically, the U.S. has incrementally expanded biometric programs—this appears to be another step in that policy arc rather than an abrupt change—but until a formal rule or directive is issued, rights and consequences remain bounded by existing immigration law. For anyone planning travel, especially those with pending immigration applications or travel‑sensitive statuses, consider consulting an immigration attorney to understand possible next steps.
Source: [Original Article](https://news.google.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?oc=5