Immigration: The U.S. Entry-Exit System

This report provides an overview of the country’s entry-exit system. It provides a summary of the statutory requirements of the system, including the mandate that it uses biometric identifiers. It explains which biometrics are taken upon entry and/or exit to the United States, how the facial recognition technology works, and who is required to provide biometric data. It then provides an explanation of how the entry-exit system works and its stage of development in different environments: air, sea, and land ports of entry (POEs).

The report concludes with policy considerations for Congress, including the accuracy, security, and storage of biometric data and the ability of U.S. citizens to opt-out, among other things.