January 21, 2026
Simon Williamson, President of iProov, joined a roundtable discussion with the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Homeland Security and Task Force on Enhancing Security for Special Events in the United States. Other panelists included Ryan Propis, Vice President, Security and Facilitation, U.S. Travel Association; Chris McLaughlin, Chief Executive Officer, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW); Martin Elam, Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA); and Melissa Alvarado, Director, Government Affairs, Delta Air Lines.
Williamson delivered key insights into the pivotal role of biometric technology in modernizing border security ahead of mass-gathering events. Read his opening remarks below:
“Good Afternoon, Chairman Guest and Chairman McCaul, Ranking Member Correa, and Ranking Member Pou, and members of the Committee. My name is Simon Williamson. I am President at iProov, where I have worked with governments and highly regulated organizations worldwide to deploy biometric solutions for high-assurance identity management. Currently, I lead our Physical Access business unit, which specializes in applying these solutions for airports, borders, and other high-security physical environments.
iProov technology is primarily used by governments and highly regulated businesses, such as financial institutions. The common denominator among iProov customers is an operational need where trust, accuracy, uptime, and security outcomes cannot be compromised, and systems must perform reliably and consistently at high volume.
Today, this Committee is discussing the use of biometrics in Entry/Exit programs at U.S. borders. To best address this topic, it is important to first understand some of the innovations in biometric technology that make them a critical part of any identity assurance process. Used responsibly, biometrics can strengthen security while remaining privacy-preserving and inclusive. They have demonstrated improved efficiency by enabling members of the DHS Trusted Traveler Program and U.S. citizen travelers to move through processes faster and with less friction at some of our nation’s busiest airports.
At a basic level, biometrics solve a simple yet significant problem: confirming that a person is who they claim to be quickly and with high confidence. Biometrics are the most scalable, practical mechanism to support the implementation of the Congressional mandate for a comprehensive Entry/Exit system. They help close the loop on visa overstays by providing strong, auditable evidence of departure.
Independent federal testing shows that top-tier face biometric systems have improved significantly over the last decade. Unlike manual processes, which are subject to fatigue and inconsistency, error rates can be measured, monitored, and reduced. Critically, they can empower security officials to focus on higher-risk cases by reducing repetitive administrative steps and allowing them to focus on their core competencies and training.
Historically, the deployment of biometrics at ports of entry and airports has faced numerous challenges: expensive hardware, integration with existing systems, privacy concerns, and the difficulty of scaling solutions consistently across diverse airport environments. Advances in technology have significantly addressed these constraints while reducing costs and dramatically increasing performance and reliability.
Commoditized, off-the-shelf hardware now provides substantial processing power at the point of capture, enabling real-time identity verification with less reliance on centralized infrastructure. These improvements allow biometric solutions to be deployed flexibly, securely, and at scale across ports of entry, even in constrained operational environments. This enables cost-effective, reliable, traveler-centric deployments that support officer decision-making while protecting civil liberties.
One of the most compelling success stories has been the CBP’s leadership in expanding Seamless Border Entry (SBE) and Enhanced Passenger Processing (EPP) across U.S. airports. These programs have demonstrated significantly increased passenger throughput and reduced wait times while maintaining CBP’s security, privacy, and operational standards.
At Orlando International Airport, iProov supports EPP at an average of 14 passengers per lane per minute, with an image acceptance rate exceeding 99.9%. CBP wait-time reporting indicates a 65% average reduction in wait times. In our Seamless Border Entry deployments, observed throughput can exceed 20 passengers per lane per minute. It’s no coincidence that early deployments have shown strong traveler enthusiasm to participate, reflecting growing public acceptance when these programs deliver clear convenience benefits.
With upcoming mass gathering events, such as the FIFA World Cup and the Summer Olympics, it is important that the United States can manage what will likely be unprecedented travel volumes while maintaining strong security standards. These technologies enable faster processing, reduce congestion during peak arrival surges, and allow officers to focus attention on higher-risk travelers.
The SBE and EPP programs have created a strong foundation for the efficient and inclusive use of biometrics at U.S. borders. Importantly, they provide valuable operational insights to support the successful scaling of biometric Entry/Exit in time for upcoming mass-gathering events.
Thank you again for the opportunity to speak here today, and I look forward to your questions.”
