Strict new customs laws have come into effect in the US, meaning government officials can collect tourists’ DNA in certain cases.he new biometric data collection policy was actioned on 26 December, despite having been announced back in November.Non-citizens will be subjected to facial recognition photographs in the airport when entering or exiting the US to help match them to existing records. These records could be stored for up to 75 years in the agency’s biometric identity management system, according to the official documents, and Department of Homeland Security officials may wish to request additional information from travellers, such as fingerprints or DNA.

US citizens are not required to participate in the program, but can opt in when jetting in or out of the country if they wish to do so.Those who wish not to participate have to let a CBP officer or airline representative know about their decision and will be asked to undergo a manual passport check instead.According to the US government, the new security measures have been put in place in order to ‘deter the filing of frivolous claims and provide operational consistency’.It’s not only the additional biometric data that has been given the green light under the new law. Age restrictions on facial recognition have also been removed, meaning any non-citizen of any age will be subjected to the biometric requirements.