Border guards at US border crossings located at Blaine, Wash.; Buffalo; Detroit; Nogales, Ariz. and San Ysidro, Calif have already begun to use, or will within the next few months begin to operate, machines that can 'read' information contained within government issued ID cards as travellers approach check points.

By the time a vehicle reaches the check point the photographs and personal data of all occupants appear on a screen for the border guards to check, and anyone flagged on any 'watch list or database' is automatically taken in for questioning.