LAX passport control

[Veggie3 22]

I have a question that is not immigration-related but rather about border control procedure. I'm a US citizen for over 2.5 years now, and never experienced such a thing when returning to the US: last Friday, when I returned from a few weeks abroad, my POE was LAX. As I proceeded to passport control (I don't have Global Entry), I was asked if I'm a USC and directed to that specific line. Then when I came to officer, she did not ask to see my passport, but just took my picture and wished me a good day. I never had to show my passport, or even take it out of its sleeve.

 

Did something like that happen to you? I read somewhere that CBP had a contactless pilot at LAX during COVID, but this is the first time, even as a USC, that I did not need even to show my passport (not even its cover).

[Crazy Cat 41,806]

6 minutes ago, Veggie3 said:

Then when I came to officer, she did not ask to see my passport, but just took my picture and wished me a good day.

Same thing happened to my wife in May at Dallas (DFW).  It was her first time using her US passport.  Facial recognition?  

Edited July 25, 2023 by Crazy Cat

[Crazy Cat 41,806]

***Moved to Working and Traveling....****

[Veggie3 22]

Yes, since all US passports are biometric now, I guess they can do that (and for immigrants they collected that data already in the visa/GC stage). Does this face recognition software work immediately, though? What if a "bad apple" takes the risk and goes into that line (even if not USC or GC holder), can the system stop them in time before they enter the country? I hope it's not a security loophole.

[Mike E 11,739]

Passports and green cards are becoming dinosaurs. Good riddance.

 

Now if only the TSA would get with the program.

Edited July 25, 2023 by Mike E

[NorthByNorthwest 346]

1 hour ago, Veggie3 said:

Yes, since all US passports are biometric now, I guess they can do that (and for immigrants they collected that data already in the visa/GC stage). Does this face recognition software work immediately, though? What if a "bad apple" takes the risk and goes into that line (even if not USC or GC holder), can the system stop them in time before they enter the country? I hope it's not a security loophole.

 

Just like with Global Entry, the system does work immediately. If there's not a 1:1 face match with sufficient confidence you get flagged as such and present your documents for examination the old-fashioned way.

[Mike E 11,739]

1 hour ago, Veggie3 said:

Does this face recognition software work immediately, though?

Yes

1 hour ago, Veggie3 said:

 

What if a "bad apple" takes the risk and goes into that line (even if not USC or GC holder), can the system stop them in time before they enter the country?

System will not match the face to a known authorized traveler, and IME, the gate will not open.

[JeanneAdil 6,489]

CBP officer didn't look at my passport back in 2020 when we came home from Paris (Atlanta airport)

He called me by name and said "don't need that -we checked it when u got on the plane and i have your photo"

I asked "will they do away with passports?"  he said "No,  we need those security checks"

 

He mentioned some airlines are experimenting with "copy and paste"  photo to image of airline seating # for the flight 

[Mike E 11,739]

9 minutes ago, JeanneAdil said:

he said "No,  we need those security checks"

That CBPO has a failure of nerve and vision. There is nothing in a U.S. passport that he does not already have online. Indeed he has more online than the passport has. 
 

A passport is a security hole, because it can be stolen and used by a bad actor.

Edited July 26, 2023 by Mike E

[MMDG 106]

It happened to us too! Atlanta airport.

the officer was talking to us like he knew who we were before we even handed him the passports. I asked him “how did you know” I asked him that twice because he also said info about my husband which was kind of crazy like how would he know? He just kept smiling then said welcome to USA.

Must be facial recognition but wow I’m impressed that’s super high tech comparing to where I come from 😅feels unreal.

Edited July 26, 2023 by MMDG

[mam521 2,056]

The airports on both ends know which airport you're supposed to be in and are aware of your presence the minute you check in and head through security.  The biometrics associated with your passport give them all they need to know.  They know what flight you're supposed to be on, so which gates you'll be accessing to plane, and what gate you'll deplane at when you reach your destination. 

 

In most of Europe, they are using eGates for a good number of passport holders - you slide your passport in, it scans your face, the gates open.  You don't even interact with a human anymore.  Applicable for both plane and train travel.  The UK just dropped the eGate user age to kids 10 and up.  The bulk of Europe was 12 years old.  It was slick and far superior to waiting in line to interact with a human.  

[Mike E 11,739]

Cameras are every where and computer processing power per penny increases by 41 percent per year. We are the point that those with faces not in a database are going to get the most scrutiny.