U.S. set to overhaul border screening
Social media checks among proposed rules
By: Josh Rivrea
and Kathleen Wong
USA Today
..... Travelers entering the United States could soon face expanded biometric screening and new digital reporting requirements as U.S. Customs and Border Protection seeks to overhaul how it verifies the identities and movements of millions of visitors.
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In a new proposal published in the Federal Register, the Department of Homeland Security is asking the public to weigh in on changes to the Arrival/departure Record (Form I-94) process and the Electric System for Travel Authorization, or ESTA, Waiver Program by citizens of Visa Waiver Program countries to enter the United States.
..... CBP says the changes are designed to reduce fraud, improve identity verification and close longstanding gaps in the tracking of foreign visitors.
..... The proposal affects nearly every foreign traveler insentient the country - and comes as border searches of personal devices have drawn increasing attention and concern from travelers.
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Customs and Border Protection did not immediately respond to USA Today's request for comment.
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The agency is proposing several updates, including new biometric requirements, increased data collection and the elimination of the ESTA website in favor of a mobile-only system.
..... Among the changes in the proposal:
* Mandatory selfie uploads for all ESTA applicants, including those applying through third parties such as travel agents.
* Expended "high-value data fiends," including applicants' social media accounts form the past five years, phone numbers and email addresses going back a decade, IP addresses and even biometrics such as fingerprint, face DNA and iris scans when feasible. These additions stem from a January [2025] executive order targeting foreign terrorist thread.
* A new, voluntary "self-reported exit" feature allowing foreign nationals to confirm their departure from the United States by submitting passport data, a live selfie and geological through CBP's mobile app.
* A Mobile-only ESTA application, eliminating the web-based option after CBP documented widespread abuse linked to poor-quality image uploads and fraudulent third-party websites charging travelers unnecessary fees.
* Updates to the Visa Waiver Program, including the recent removal of Romania, and the expectation that additional countries may be added in the coming years.
..... The changes would not affect U.S. citizens. The proposal applies primarily to foreign nationals subject to I-94 documentation, visitors from Visa Waiver Program countries applying through ESTA, to self-report their departure. U.S. citizens are not required to provide biometrics beyond standard passport requirements.
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The proposal underscores what many immigration attorneys and border experts have already warned: entering the Unites States increasingly involves close scrutiny of travelers' identity, digital presence and travel history.
..... Travelers are already subject to phone searches, but if the new rules go thorough, ESTA applicants would have to disclose all social media accounts sued in the past five years. This follows the January [2025] executive order mandating broader screening for potential national security threats.
,,,,, Earlier this yer, [2025] USA today reported a series of incidents in which U.S. residents and visa holders were detained or deported after CBP officers reviewed the contents of their phones under heightened security measures . those searches - which can include photos, videos, deleted files and public social media posts -are legal at the border without a warrant.
..... Any traveler entering the U.S, is subject to CBP inspection,: CBP assistant commissioner Hilton Beckham said in May. [2025] While searches are "rare" and "highly regulated," he said they have been sued to identify "terrorism, smuggling, human trafficking and visa fraud."
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Immigration attorney Susanne Heubel previously told USA Today most travelers still enter the United States without issue - but that device searches and digital screening increasingly play a role when officers suspect someone's activities don't match their visa.
..... "They're checking whether the story you're telling - who you are and why you're traveling - aligns with your digital footprint," Heubel said.
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"If you are a common-sense sort of careful traveler, you should not have any issues," she said. But she also warned that for visa holders, public Online activity including political posts can now come under scrutiny.
..... USA Today reached out to the Department of Homeland Security for comment.
..... In March, [2025] Lebanese physician and Brown University faculty member Rasha Alawieh was detained at Boston Logan International Airport and deported after CBP found photoed and videos on hr phone related to Hezbollah.
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Immigration attorneys advise travelers to prepare in the following ways:
* Before you travel, review what is on your phone - including deleted files, which may still be accessible.
* Limit the number of devises you bring. Your phone is unavoidable, but ;a[tops and external drives may trigger additional review.
* If you hold a visa or green card, know exactly what activities your status allows.
* If an officer searches your device, Heubel advises stating clearly: "I do not consent, but I understand you have the right to search."
..... The public has until February 9 [2026] to submit
comments on the proposed screening changes. Comments must reference OMB Control Number 161-0111 and be sent to CBP_PRA@cbp.dhs.gov. CBP says all comments will be rerecorded publicly as part of the rule-making process.