House intel panel urges biometric border booths to curb future terror attacks

The House intelligence committee has issued a detailed recommendation for the United States to adopt biometric screening stations at all points of entry and departure, mirroring systems used in Europe’s Schengen zone. Drafted by Representatives Elise Stefanik and Josh Gottheimer, the 66-page document emphasizes facial, fingerprint and iris scans to create a continuous record of foreign nationals’ movements. It highlights gaps in current procedures, especially the absence of outbound facial scans at airports and limited capabilities at land borders with Canada and Mexico.

The report notes that in October 2025 Customs and Border Protection updated regulations to permit DHS to require photographs from non-citizens, yet full implementation of exit scans remains incomplete. Pilot projects for vehicle-based facial recognition are underway, but a comprehensive automated system has yet to be realized. The committee urges swift action to fulfill the 9/11 Commission’s recommendation for a rapid, secure biometric entry-exit framework.