For years, travelers viewed departure from the United States as a routine process with minimal interaction with U.S. immigration authorities. That assumption is becoming outdated as U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) expands its biometric exit program, making departure from the United States an increasingly important immigration inspection point.
Background
Congress first mandated the creation of an entry-exit tracking system in 1996 to record the arrivals and departures of foreign nationals. Following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and the creation of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Congress expanded the program to require biometric collection to strengthen national security and improve immigration enforcement.
