Privacy Compliance Review of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Southwest Border Pedestrian Exit Field Test

The Department of Homeland Security U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) conducted the Southwest Border Pedestrian Exit Field Test (Test) to determine whether the collection of biometric information, including facial and iris images, from visitors exiting the United States enhances CBP exit operations with acceptable impacts to the public’s travel experience and border processing times.  Due to the novel technologies and heightened privacy risks involved with the collection of biometrics, particularly with untested biometric modalities, the Test’s PIA required the DHS Privacy Office to conduct a Privacy Compliance Review (PCR) at the conclusion of the Test. This PCR was designed to evaluate how the information collected during the Test was used, retained, and destroyed. In keeping with the Test goals of providing an operational feasibility assessment for potential future deployment, the recommendations of this PCR are also intended to provide CBP with best practices and an initial privacy compliance framework for potential future deployments of biometric collection technologies and processes.

JANUARY 2017