Immigration Lawyer Blog
If you’re a U.S. Green Card holder, you might think your permanent residency means smooth sailing through Customs and Border Protection (CBP) after returning from temporary foreign travel. But 2025 has brought some surprising developments that remind every lawful permanent resident (LPR) to be extra cautious. These changes might sound a little crazy—but ignoring them could cause big problems at the port of entry.
New CBP Policy—Mandatory Data Collection Practice
Starting December 26, 2025, CBP will roll out a new policy mandating the collection of biometric data from green card holders and noncitizens upon their entry to and departure from the United States.
This new policy requires all noncitizens, including green card holders, to have their photograph taken and potentially provide additional biometrics (such as fingerprints, iris scans, or voice prints) when entering or exiting the U.S. via land, sea or airports.
The regulation is intended to strengthen border security, reduce travel document fraud and ensure more accurate records of departures and arrivals; however, it also raises significant privacy considerations as agencies will collect, store, and process biometric data from large numbers of individuals.