CBP Broadens Iris Recognition at U.S. Borders

Published Date : 04/12/2024 

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is increasingly leveraging iris recognition technology to enhance border security. Despite its limited use compared to fingerprint and facial recognition, iris scanning is becoming a critical tool for identifying individuals at border checkpoints. 

The U.S.Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is making significant strides in expanding the use of iris recognition technology at the nation’s borders.

This move is noteworthy given the limited adoption of the technology compared to more prevalent methods like fingerprint and facial recognition.

Over the past decade, the U.S.

Border Patrol, a key component of the CBP responsible for securing the border, has ramped up its use of iris scanning.

For the fourth quarter of this fiscal year, nearly 69% of apprehensions facilitated by the CBP involved an iris scan, according to an agency insider.

The goal is to increase this percentage to 100%.

Currently, some of the agency’s computer systems lack the cameras necessary for iris scans.

Additionally, Border Patrol agents often have the option to skip the iris scanning process.

To boost the uptake, the CBP is planning to roll out a software update later this month that will mandate iris scans during encounters.

According to a CBP spokesperson, 40 checkpoints across four regional sectors are equipped with iris biometric technology.

Last fiscal year, 8,000 identifications were made using iris scans along with fingerprints.

“Iris scanners are just a part of our biometric collection, like the collection of fingerprints and photographs for facial comparison,” the spokesperson explained.

“Iris biometrics helps us confirm identities where fingerprint matches are not possible due to degradation or discrepancies.”

The CBP has also tested iris recognition at its Office of Field Operations, which handles official ports of entry like airports.

However, the agency decided to move forward only with facial and fingerprint biometrics at these points.

“U.S.

Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Field Operations conducted a limited iris biometrics field study using three collection methods, including on-the-move, pause-and-look, and kiosks, and opted to only move forward with facial and fingerprint biometrics.

CBP no longer collects iris biometrics at POEs,” the spokesperson added.

A recent privacy threshold analysis mentions the use of biometrics, specifically taking a “photo.” However, the document does not specifically reference iris technology.

An anonymous source familiar with the Border Patrol program noted that iris recognition is deployed throughout the CBP.

The primary appeal of iris recognition is its stability over a person’s lifetime, making it a reliable identifier.

For instance, fingerprints can fade due to manual labor or cleaning chemicals, and in some cases, individuals might intentionally burn off their fingerprints.

Iris recognition provides a consistent alternative.

Patrick Grother, an expert in biometric technology at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), explained, “Face recognition is built on learning from massive amounts of data.

Iris recognition, originally, wasn’t done that way.

The original research looked at images of the iris and wrote down a set of algorithms that promised good recognition.

This approach proved successful and led to the development of the industry.” He added that iris technology can distinguish between identical twins but may be affected by the quality of the photo, eye openness, and certain eye conditions.

The technology used by the CBP is provided by Iris ID, a leading company in the field.

Tim Meyerhoff, the company’s director, stated that their cameras are designed with near-infrared monochrome lighting to illuminate the iris, a feature not found in typical webcams.

Iris ID has been working with the CBP for about a decade, according to records and documents released by the Department of Homeland Security.

Proponents of iris recognition argue that it is a game-changer for border security, helping to identify individuals who attempt to evade detection in security databases.

However, privacy advocates express concerns about potential misuse.

Jake Wiener, an attorney at the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC), cautioned, “What we don’t want to happen with iris is what happened with Social Security numbers.

It got used for everything.

Now everyone’s Social Security number is purchasable on the dark web.

I think iris is the last biometrics that hasn’t been broken in that way.” Despite the risks, he noted that iris recognition poses fewer threats compared to facial recognition because iris images cannot be matched against a vast database of web images.

Though iris biometric recognition is less common than other biometric methods, its use is on the rise.

Iris ID collaborates with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and CLEAR biometrics and assists with border crossings in some Middle Eastern countries.

The company provides the necessary cameras and back-end technology for identification but does not retain the iris data itself.

About Iris ID

Iris ID is a leading provider of iris recognition technology, offering specialized cameras and software solutions.

The company’s technology is designed to capture high-quality iris images using near-infrared monochrome lighting, ensuring accurate and reliable identification.

About CBP

The U.S.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is a federal law enforcement agency within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) responsible for protecting the nation’s borders.

CBP integrates border and transportation security functions and has a workforce of more than 60,000 employees. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS):

Q: What is iris recognition technology?

A: Iris recognition technology is a biometric method that uses the unique patterns in the iris of the eye to identify individuals. It is known for its high accuracy and reliability over a person’s lifetime.

Q: Why is CBP expanding the use of iris recognition?

A: CBP is expanding the use of iris recognition to enhance border security by providing a reliable and consistent method of identification, especially in cases where fingerprints may be degraded or missing.

Q: How does iris recognition compare to other biometric methods like facial and fingerprint recognition?

A: Iris recognition is more stable over a person’s lifetime and can distinguish between identical twins. However, it requires specialized cameras and more hands-on work compared to facial recognition.

Q: What are the privacy concerns associated with iris recognition?

A: Privacy advocates worry about potential misuse of iris data and the risks of it being used for broader purposes beyond border security. However, iris images are less susceptible to large-scale databases compared to facial recognition.

Q: Which company provides the iris recognition technology used by CBP?

A: The iris recognition technology used by CBP is provided by Iris ID, a leading company in the field known for its high-quality cameras and back-end technology. 

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