This happened to us in mid May 2017 coming back from Germany to Philadelphia. Lock step herded in snake lined queue, camera kiosks posted as confused passengers

This happened to us in mid May 2017 coming back from Germany to Philadelphia. Lock step herded in snake lined queue, camera kiosks posted as confused passengers deciphered touch screen directives to scan their passports and stand for a photo. Each machine had what appeared to be cat5 cable and power routed to the wall. After what appeared to be a cheap thermal printout of your mug shot, passengers were instructed to take it to a human agent for further processing. The most interesting aspect of this was the big sign of NO cameras or smartphones allowed despite it being quite easy to see passport information from adjacent stations. I assumed this was the new National ID effort to put an end to any enemies of the State. After all this, there was the CBP agricultural inspection and a security check all this from direct debarcation. Basically you are trapped and there is no way of escape from these processings. Welcome to the new State.