The Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate tested facial biometric systems in May at the Progreso International Bridge to help U.S. Customs and Border Protection verify pedestrians leaving the United States for Mexico, according to the agency.
Pilot tests facial recognition technology
The pilot brought industry partners to the Texas border crossing to assess whether cameras and related systems could capture usable facial images of travelers walking out of the United States. CBP asked S&T in October 2025 to identify technology that could securely, efficiently and accurately confirm pedestrian departures using biometrics.
CBP already uses biometric verification for other traveler-screening purposes at Progreso, as The Dallas Express previously reported.
DHS selects three biometric systems
S&T coordinated with federal and industry partners through Cooperative Research and Development Agreements, allowing vendors to cover their own costs while providing data for government decision-making. In early 2026, S&T invited six companies to the Maryland Test Facility for initial capability demonstrations. Those demonstrations led CBP and S&T to select three solutions for additional data collection: two from NEC National Security Systems and a joint offering from Paravision and AiFi.
Before the field test, S&T built a replica of the pedestrian exit environment at the Maryland Test Facility so vendors could install and assess their prototypes in a controlled setting. The industry partners then arrived at the Progreso International Bridge in May for the operational assessment.
Technology faces real-world conditions
The partners mounted some cameras on poles at different heights to account for travelers of different statures. They used artificial intelligence and other technologies to construct a 3D digital environment of the capture zone, observe pedestrian movement and analyze whether facial images were suitable for matching in CBP’s Traveler Verification Service.
The test accounted for variables including walking pace, hats, sunglasses and umbrellas. The teams also ran after-dark tests using external lighting and different camera alignments.
Signs tell U.S. citizens they can opt out
Signs in English and Spanish informed pedestrians that U.S. citizens could opt out of biometric exit collection if they did not want their picture taken. DHS said the biometric Entry/Exit mandate applies to non-U.S. citizen travelers.
“It is one thing for a technology to work in a lab like MdTF, but it is significantly more difficult when the tech is deployed operationally at the border. At Progreso, it had to work with limited infrastructure, in a challenging environment, and do it autonomously,” said Dr. Cameron Whitelam, director of S&T’s Biometric, Identity, and Advanced Computing Division. “And it did just that.”
CBP says image capture exceeded expectations
Arun Vemury, S&T senior advisor for biometrics and identity, said the directorate facilitated the demonstration to help CBP meet long-standing legislative requirements and administration priorities.
Larry Panetta, director of CBP’s Biometrics Program Office, said the image capture capabilities exceeded expectations in both day and night conditions and could serve as a force multiplier for the agency.
“The fact that this went from concept to operational data collection in just a few months is amazing,” Panetta said. “It was a pleasure working with S&T and we’re looking forward to more collaborations with them in the near future.”
Provided by Dallas Express
