Foreigners leaving the United States for Mexico through the crosswalk at the Otay Mesa border crossing will now have to verify their identity through the use of biometric data as part of the "Otay Mesa Pedestrian Entry and Exit Pilot Program".
This means that in addition to showing their documents, before leaving the country, border authorities will capture facial and eye images of travelers with special scanners to compare biometric data with their entry record.
The new technology will allow U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to maintain up-to-date entry and exit records and identify aliens who enter legally with visas but remain in the country with expired visas.
It is estimated that half of the people currently living illegally in the United States entered the country with a visa and overstayed their authorized stay.
The exit test at the Otay Mesa crossing is the second phase of the program. The first phase began in December 2015, requiring biometric testing to enter the country.
Authorities are testing to determine which technology -- face or iris scanning -- and which method of data collection is faster and more accurate for the registration of people entering and exiting all land crossings along the border with Mexico.
The trial period will end between May and June of this year.
The final results of the information collected are expected to be released this summer in order to expand controls at all land, air and sea ports.
