Congressman Byron Donalds (R-FL) is turning up the heat on border technology, introducing a new measure to find out exactly why a decades-old plan for a full biometric entry-exit system still isn’t finished.
The proposal, titled the “Reform Immigration Through Biometrics Act,” marks Donalds’ 23rd legislative push of the 119th Congress. It targets the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), requiring officials to hand over a formal progress report on the system’s implementation.
The goal is to pinpoint specific hurdles causing delays, fix security gaps, and provide a more accurate way to track individuals who overstay their visas.
While the U.S. has used biometric data—like fingerprints, facial recognition, and iris scans—to vet foreign nationals entering the country since 2006, the “exit” side of the equation has lagged behind. Though a December 2025 rule mandated a nationwide rollout, the system still does not cover every single port of entry.
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“Knowing who has come into our country is fundamental to our nation’s sovereignty and survival,” Donalds said in a statement. He noted that while efforts to secure the border have intensified, visa overstays and fraudulent documents remain significant “pieces of the overall illegal immigration puzzle.”
The push for this technology isn’t new. In fact, the 9/11 Commission originally recommended a comprehensive biometric system back in 2004 to bolster national security.
Federal law also technically requires the government to maintain an integrated system for both arrivals and departures, yet full execution has remained elusive for over twenty years.
Donalds argues that the American people have given lawmakers a “clear mandate” to resolve the immigration crisis.
By forcing a formal evaluation of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) progress, this bill intends to hold the agency accountable to that timeline and finally close the loop on who is leaving the country, not just who is coming in.
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