U.S. Customs and Border Protection is introducing facial biometric scanning for American travellers departing from airports in ten countries, including Bermuda. The face-scanning process is being positioned as the next step in processing passengers at U.S. airports, with full contactless checkpoints seen as the direction of future travel screening.

The agency says the push for fully contactless border checks reflects where passenger screening is likely to end up in the coming years. Officials have described the expansion as a way to speed up the departure process for travellers.

The expansion comes alongside separate controversies involving the agency. A Texas man who is a U.S. national was reportedly deported, a case that has attracted attention over how deportation decisions are reached and carried out. Separately, a Somali football referee was denied entry ahead of upcoming World Cup responsibilities.