The Dominican Republic has launched a pilot program using facial recognition technology at official crossing points in the Pedernales region along its border with Haiti. Immigration Director Vice Admiral Luis Rafael Lee Ballester said the initiative aims to strengthen border security and improve identity management for participants in cross-border trade.
As part of the program, foreign nationals taking part in binational markets will be required to register their biometric data and declare their country of origin before conducting business in Dominican territory. Ballester noted that the Directorate General of Immigration will issue a formal resolution outlining the registration process and requirements for participants.
Technology Deployment and Oversight
The facial recognition system has already been installed and is undergoing testing as part of the pilot phase. Ballester stated that once coordination is complete with the Office of the President, officials will set a date for the system’s full implementation.
The project has received support from multiple stakeholders, including an assessment visit by a U.S. Customs and Border Protection official, who joined Dominican authorities to review the technology’s deployment. The system is being supplied by Dermalog and forms part of a broader border security strategy that includes construction of a border wall with integrated biometric capabilities.
Part of a Broader Security Commitment
The pilot advances a pledge made by President Luis Abinader in 2023 to implement biometric data collection along the country’s western border. Authorities say the technology is intended to curb unauthorized migration and help address cross-border criminal activity while supporting regulated commerce.
Officials plan to announce the formal launch schedule after evaluating the pilot’s performance and finalizing inter-agency coordination. The Pedernales deployment will serve as the initial test site before any potential expansion to other border crossings.
Sources: Prensa Latina, Caribbean Times
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By the ID Tech Editorial Team
