Electronic surveillance

DC Airport First In Nation to Catch Suspected Imposter Using Facial Biometrics

A D.C.-area airport’s brand new facial recognition program caught an alleged imposter trying to enter the country on a false passport, the first such detection at an airport using facial biometrics, according to a Customs and Border Protection release.

CBP officials at Washington Dulles International Airport Wednesday said the newly implemented facial biometric program identified a 26-year-old Congolese man attempting to enter the U.S. using a French passport.

The man, traveling from Sao Paulo, Brazil on Tuesday, went through the new international entry system at Dulles Airport, which brings travelers directly to a CBP officer for document inspection. While the documents are being scanned, a biometric camera analyzes the passenger’s face and compares it against records associated with the passport or other travel documents.

In this instance, the system flagged the man as a mismatch for the passport on record and he was removed for additional screening. At that time, officers said he became “visibly nervous” and an authentic ID card showing he was a citizen of the Republic of Congo was found in his shoe.