San Francisco flyers woke up to a fresh layer of uncertainty this week as the Department of Homeland Security quietly expanded its biometric data collection program at SFO and other major U.S. gateways.
The move, which civil-rights groups say mirrors earlier tactics used during the Trump administration’s immigration crackdowns, could subject both citizens and non-citizens to enhanced facial recognition and device searches before boarding or after landing.
From Immigration Tool to Broad Surveillance Net
Originally pitched as a way to verify the identities of arriving immigrants, the program now scoops up images and personal information from anyone passing through designated “biometric corridors.”
Government documents reviewed by Jetsetter Guide show the data can be stored for up to 75 years and shared across federal agencies, a timeline far longer than most travelers realize.
Legal advocates argue the expansion skirts due-process protections that courts in California have historically reinforced, setting the stage for a new round of lawsuits similar to the 2025 ruling that blocked National Guard deployments linked to immigration enforcement.
What Travelers Should Know
If you are departing from or connecting through SFO, expect cameras at the jet bridge and additional prompts from TSA officers to remove masks or glasses for a clear scan.
Refusing a facial scan is technically allowed, but you will be steered into a manual identity check that could add 10–30 minutes to your security timeline—crucial if you are racing to catch that Maui redeye.
International passengers should anticipate possible secondary inspections of laptops and phones; officials can copy data under the same policy umbrella, so consider traveling with minimal devices or using secure cloud backups.
Ripple Effects on the Bay Area
The Bay Area’s large immigrant population relies on SFO for family visits and work travel, making the airport a focal point for civil-rights watchdogs.
Local attorneys from the ACLU of Northern California are already setting up “airport hotlines” in multiple languages, and City Hall has hinted it may pursue legislation limiting municipal cooperation with the data program.
Looking Ahead
DHS says it plans to roll out the same technology at Oakland and San José airports by early next year, meaning the window for a legal challenge is shrinking.
Airlines, meanwhile, appear caught in the middle; several global carriers told Jetsetter Guide they are “reviewing the operational impact” but stopped short of guaranteeing opt-out lanes for concerned customers.
With peak holiday travel approaching, the Bay Area could become the national test case for striking a balance between security and privacy.
How do you feel about handing over more personal data just to board a flight—will you opt out or embrace the tech? Share your thoughts below.
