The American authorities have implemented a rule that extends the collection of biometric data from foreign citizens, including minors and elderly individuals, to enhance national security.

Starting from Friday, U.S. authorities have implemented a new rule that significantly expands the collection of biometric data from foreign citizens entering or exiting the United States. The measure, announced in October by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), aims to enhance national security and allows the collection of photographs, fingerprints, and facial biometric data at airports, land border crossings, and seaports.

For the first time, minors under 14 years old, as well as individuals over 79 years old, who were previously exempt, are included. The new regulation applies to all foreigners, including permanent and temporary residents. DHS claims that this system will improve the identification of individuals seeking entry into the U.S. and will more effectively verify exits from the country.

Critics, including civil rights activists, have expressed concerns regarding the transparency of data storage and potential identification errors. Additionally, the U.S. administration has proposed another controversial measure that could require tourists from 42 countries to provide their social media activity history from the past five years in order to enter the U.S. These measures reflect a trend towards tightening border control in the context of global security and migration concerns.