Facial Recognition Tech Spots Imposter Traveling Through JFK

U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) has used facial recognition technology to capture an imposter trying to enter the country through John F. Kennedy airport in New York. According to CBP, the imposter was a 26-year-old woman travelling from Mexico City who presented a US passport when she arrived at JFK.

The woman was taken to a separate area when the travel document raised the suspicion of a border control officer. A facial recognition scan and a subsequent interview then allowed the CBP to determine that the woman did not match the identity indicated on the passport she was carrying.

“This traveler was apprehended utilizing CBP’s layered enforcement strategy and technology coupled with the CBP officer’s expertise,” said Troy Miller, the Director of CBP’s New York Field Office. “This force multiplier is essential in apprehending those persons that would look to break our immigration laws.”

The CBP first started using facial recognition technology at JFK in 2016, and has since expanded that trial run with biometric screening gates for multiple terminals and airlines. Though the technology is often celebrated for its convenience – particularly its ability to speed up departures and arrivals – the CBP’s statement is a reminder that it also adds an extra layer of security. Facial recognition can help border patrol agents spot illegal travelers, even when their documents are good enough to pass official muster.

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February 25, 2019 – by Eric Weiss