At the end of a journey the MRTD/biometric system can serve customs and immigration - for example, making illegal entry into a country more difficult. A technique now used by intended illegal entrants is to "lose" travel documents once they have passed departure controls, then deny immigration authorities on arrival any information about their origin so they cannot be returned. Now the departure point can keep digital records of the checked MRTD, along with biometrics such as face-scans, and these can be datalinked to arrival control to allow individuals to be identified.
Source: Flight International