The European Union (EU) is fortifying its borders by way of an “intelligent control system” that will make the process of checking the identities of travelers quicker and more efficient.

A component of the project IBORDERCTRL, the new system will assist border guards in spotting illegal immigrants while also helping to prevent both crime and terrorism, according to reports.

“We’re employing existing and proven technologies — as well as novel ones — to empower border agents to increase the accuracy and efficiency of border checks," said project coordinator George Boultadakis of European Dynamics in Luxembourg. “BORDER TRL's system will collect data that will move beyond biometrics and on to biomarkers of deceit.”

The system, which is divided into two different stages, first requires travelers to upload visas, passports and proof of funds to an online application center in advance of being questioned by a computer-animated border guard appearing via webcam.

The computer-animated guards will be custom programmed based on the traveler’s ethnicity, gender and age. They are also programmed to pick up on signals that might suggest deception by studying the traveler’s micro-expressions. Also at this stage, travelers are notified of their rights in the hopes of deterring potential criminal activity.

Stage two occurs at the physical EU border where travelers who have been classified as low risk will be ushered through a brief re-evaluation of their entry information. Travelers classified as high risk will undergo an even more detailed evaluation.

Armed with handheld digital devices that enable them to check traveler’s identities, border guards are able to compare the traveler’s current appearance to images taken during pre-screening and to passport images. Additionally, traveler’s will be required to submit to fingerprinting, palm vein scanning and face matching even before their risk category is assigned.

The system is set to be trialed in Hungary, Greece and Latvia.