The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is expanding its use of artificial intelligence, biometric systems and advanced screening technologies to strengthen security operations and improve traveler processing ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup and 2028 Summer Olympics, according to Adina Pantella, executive director at CBP.

Speaking at the Engage Public Sector conference in Washington, D.C., Pantella said the agency is scaling technology deployments to handle the expected surge in international travel while reducing operational burdens on frontline personnel.

CBP wants to “shift officers away from administrative procedures” and toward identifying threats, allowing them to “focus on traveler purpose, intent, and behavior.”
To support that goal, CBP is integrating AI and machine learning into screening and vetting operations, combining biographic and biometric data to correlate travel records and identify suspicious activity patterns before travelers arrive in the United States.

The agency is deploying facial capture and other biometric technologies across airport terminals, vehicle lanes and passenger processing systems.