Smile for the Exit: U.S. Customs Plans to Snap Your Departure!

Hot Take:

Oh, the lengths we go to snap a selfie! The US Customs and Border Protection is stepping up its game, aiming to capture every face that dares to exit the land of the free. Move over, paparazzi; there’s a new photographer in town, and they’re not missing a single angle, even if you’re trying to make a low-key departure. Who knew leaving could be as photogenic as entering?

Key Points:

• CBP plans to photograph every person leaving the US by vehicle at border crossings.
• The program mirrors existing systems for people entering the US, matching faces with travel documents.
• Current technology captures only 61% of vehicle occupants successfully.
• ICE is developing ImmigrationOS for tracking self-deportations in near real-time.
• Trump administration incentivizes self-deportation with financial offers and legal status changes.

Smile for the Camera!

Get ready to say “cheese” every time you leave the US by land! The Customs and Border Protection (CBP) wants to snap a pic of every soul crossing the border in a vehicle and match it with their travel documents. It’s like your very own personalized paparazzi moment, minus the red carpet but with all the drama of potentially being mistaken for someone else because, let’s face it, not all passport photos are flattering. CBP thinks it’s a great idea to apply this to outbound lanes too, so now, even your car will get its moment to shine!

Facial Recognition Follies

In the quest for capturing every facial expression under the sun, CBP has encountered a few hiccups. Their current tech only manages a 61% success rate at the Anzalduas crossing. It seems that capturing everyone in the car is a bit like trying to find Waldo at a crowded convention – you think you’ve got it, but then someone stands up, and suddenly you’re not so sure anymore. The CBP is calling on tech companies to solve this puzzle, proving once again that technology is only as good as the folks who write the code.

ImmigrationOS: The Ultimate Tracking Tool

Not to be outdone in the tech department, ICE is throwing a cool $30 million at Palantir to create ImmigrationOS. This snazzy new system promises “near real-time visibility” of people self-deporting. It’s like having a FitBit for your immigration status, except instead of tracking your steps, it tracks your steps…right out of the country. But don’t worry; it won’t be sharing your vacation selfies with your great aunt twice removed. For now, it’s just about knowing who’s leaving and when, but who knows what’s next? Maybe they’ll throw in a digital pat on the back for every successful border crossing.

The Self-Deportation Incentive Program

In a move that’s raised more than a few eyebrows, the Trump administration is dangling a $1,000 carrot to encourage self-deportation. That’s right, it’s a plane ticket home with a little extra pocket money. Who says the government doesn’t offer incentives? Now, you can upgrade from economy to economy plus. But the fun doesn’t stop there; the Department of Homeland Security is also playing hardball by revoking legal statuses and listing some folks as deceased. It’s like a bad episode of a soap opera, but with more paperwork and less dramatic music.

Borderline Efficiency

All these changes come amidst a backdrop of challenges in gathering biometric data from those leaving the US by land. Whether it’s folks in cars, on bikes, or simply hoofing it across the border, capturing all that data is proving to be as elusive as finding true love on a reality TV show. Despite these hurdles, the CBP is determined to crack the code and ensure their “biometric-based departure program” gets off the ground. And who can blame them? Everyone loves a good exit strategy.

So, next time you’re planning a trip across the US border, remember to put on your best face. Your departure might just be the highlight of someone’s day at the CBP, and you wouldn’t want to leave them hanging, would you? After all, a picture is worth a thousand words—or, in this case, a thousand data points. Safe travels!