The Trump administration wants to photograph everyone leaving the US by car

Engadget - May 9th, 2025

US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is set to implement a program that photographs every person in vehicles leaving the United States for Mexico or Canada by land. This initiative involves using facial recognition technology to match images with travel documents such as passports and visas. Although not explicitly stated, there's potential for this system to track self-deportations in the future. CBP spokesperson Jessica Turner indicated that while the program does not currently track self-deportations, it could evolve to do so. This mirrors CBP's initiatives for monitoring incoming travelers, as the agency seeks tech solutions to improve its facial recognition accuracy, which recently met only 61 percent of validation requirements during a test at a Texas-Mexico crossing.

The move follows controversial immigration enforcement policies under the Trump administration, such as incentivizing self-deportation with monetary payouts and mistakenly listing living immigrants as deceased. These developments come amid declining approval ratings for President Trump's immigration policies, with recent polls indicating public dissatisfaction. As technological and policy measures intensify, the implications for privacy, civil liberties, and immigration policy remain significant under the evolving landscape of border security and technology reliance.

Immigration Trump Administration Border Security Privacy Us Customs And Border Protection Facial Recognition Self Deportation

Story submitted by Fairstory

RATING

5.6

Moderately Fair

Read with skepticism

The article presents a timely and relevant discussion on immigration policies and the use of technology in border security. It effectively highlights controversial aspects of the Trump administration's approach, which can engage readers and provoke debate. However, the story lacks comprehensive evidence for some claims and does not provide a balanced perspective on the issues discussed. The reliance on a limited number of sources and the absence of direct links to original reports reduce the overall credibility and transparency of the information presented. While the article is clear and accessible, additional context and detailed sourcing could enhance its reliability and impact. Overall, the story raises important questions about privacy, civil liberties, and government accountability, but it would benefit from a more balanced and well-supported presentation of facts.

Accuracy

The story makes several claims about CBP's plans to photograph individuals leaving the U.S. by vehicle and the use of facial recognition technology. While CBP has been known to develop biometric systems, there is no confirmed information about a specific plan targeting all vehicle passengers at land borders. The article also discusses the Trump administration's immigration policies, such as offering payouts for voluntary departure, which requires further verification. Additionally, the claim about CBP's technology only achieving 61% accuracy at a Texas-Mexico crossing needs corroboration from recent tests or official reports. Overall, the story presents some factual information but lacks comprehensive evidence for several claims.

Balance

The article presents a predominantly critical view of the Trump administration's immigration policies without providing counterarguments or perspectives from proponents of the policies. It mentions public disapproval of Trump's immigration stance but does not explore reasons or arguments from supporters. This lack of balance could lead to a skewed perception of the situation, as it omits important viewpoints and fails to provide a comprehensive understanding of the issue.

Clarity

The article is generally clear and concise, with a straightforward presentation of information. The language is accessible, and the structure follows a logical flow, making it easy for readers to follow the main points. However, some technical aspects, such as the specifics of facial recognition technology and CBP's biometric systems, could benefit from additional explanation to enhance reader comprehension.

Source quality

The article cites Wired as a source, which is generally considered reliable for technology-related news. However, it does not provide direct links or references to the original Wired articles or any official CBP statements or documents. The lack of diverse sources and direct citations reduces the credibility of the information presented, as readers cannot easily verify the claims independently.

Transparency

The article lacks transparency in terms of disclosing the sources of its claims and the methodology behind the information presented. It does not provide links to original reports, government documents, or detailed explanations of the processes involved in CBP's initiatives. This lack of transparency makes it difficult for readers to assess the validity of the claims and understand the context in which the information was obtained.