Miami International Airport (MIA) has introduced U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s largest single deployment of Enhanced Passenger Processing (EPP), marking a major step in expanding automated passport screening in US and setting a new operational benchmark for border control facilities.
The installation positions MIA as the leading testbed for large-scale biometric border control, giving the airport a more efficient arrival process for U.S. citizens while strengthening CBP’s wider digital transformation programme.
MIA’s deployment consists of 12 biometric face pods distributed across the airport’s primary passport control zones in Concourses D, E and J. Powered by SITA’s Smart Path technology, the EPP system captures and compares passenger images with CBP records in under three seconds. The process is built to ease pressure at passport control by cutting down queues and speeding up inspections, helping push the wider use of automated passport screening in US.
The mobile pods run on wireless connections, so CBP can shift them around as traffic patterns change and optimise staffing and also effectively manage volumes. Each unit has its own agent-facing screen, giving officers a clear view of the verification steps as they happen and keeping them fully in charge of the checks.
MIA’s rollout fits into a broader, staged digital upgrade, giving the airport room to add EPP technology to more terminals as passenger numbers rise. And because the system doesn’t need any major construction work, it offers a cheaper, quicker way to build out biometric capacity.
CBP noted that collaborative deployments like MIA’s are core to its modernization agenda. “CBP is actively expanding biometric processing at major U.S. ports of entry to enhance security and streamline the arrival process for travelers. Collaborations like the one at MIA are essential for ensuring secure and efficient borders while delivering a seamless experience for international travelers,” said Daniel Alonso, Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Director at CBP.
SITA highlighted the initiative’s role in reinforcing Miami’s global position as a major entry point. “Miami is one of America’s busiest international gateways and the door to Latin America and beyond. This EPP launch is setting a new standard for efficiency at the border by using biometrics to make arrivals smoother, faster, and more secure for everyone, and can easily scale over time to additional terminals and to handle increased capacity.” said Shawn Gregor, President Americas at SITA.
The implementation aligns with broader trends across the region, with North American airlines and airports increasingly shifting toward digital identity solutions, touchless processing and automated flow management. These investments are reshaping how border authorities and airport operators plan for future passenger growth.
