U.S. Customs and Border Protection began screening certain outbound travelers Thursday at new technology kiosks set up at the Otay Mesa pedestrian border crossing.
Non-U.S. citizens entering Mexico scan their travel documents just as they do when entering the U.S. Starting Feb. 22, they will also be required to provide biometric data through the kiosks, which will scan their faces and irises.
The exit screening is the second phase of a technology test that began in December, when Customs and Border Protection began the biometric scanning of Mexican nationals and other non-U.S. citizens walking into the country through Otay Mesa.
The testing will take place until May. Officials said they plan to protect the privacy of travelers and that they don't intend to use their information for anything but the experiment.
"This test will help inform technological next steps in developing and implementing a biometric entry/exit solution, not just on the land border, but in all environments," said San Diego field operations director Pete Flores.
Customs and Border Protection said the project is meant to improve security at the border and identify visa overstays, among other things.
"This technology is a direct result of recommendations from the 9/11 Commission, and is a critical step towards addressing Congressional mandates to biometrically record the entry and exit of non-U.S. citizens, including reporting on those who have overstayed the period of their admission," the agency said in a news release.
