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Tighter guidelines for border crossing draws mixed reaction
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/news/2005-04-07-border-reax_x...
4/7/2005
DETROIT (AP) ? Flashing your driver's license when returning from jaunts to Mexico, Canada or the Caribbean won't be enough in a few years after
federal officials announced plans to tighten re-entry rules.
Americans would need passports to come home to the United States by 2008 under guidelines proposed Tuesday, the latest effort to deter terrorists from
entering the country. (Related story: Reacting to U.S. measure, Canada may require passports of Americans)
Across the country, the proposal drew mixed reaction from those who use the crossings with Canada and Mexico. Some say people will simply adapt to the
new rules the way they have other changes, while others worry that requiring passports could cause delays or make them less likely to cross.
The guidelines don't concern Shirley Foran, who always carries her passport, birth certificate and Michigan driver's license when she makes one of her
half-dozen or so trips a year across the Detroit River to Canada.
It's a quick drive ? traffic permitting ? to Windsor, Ontario, where restaurants and Casino Windsor are among the attractions for day-trippers. "I
don't want them to change the rules when I'm in the other country," Foran said.
But Johanna Hitcome, who spent a few hours Tuesday at the Fort Erie Race Track and Slots in Ontario, predicted the requirement would end excursions to
Canada for many. The Detroit-Windsor crossings are the busiest links between the United States and Canada.
"It would restrict a lot of people," said Hitcome, 68, of Lakewood in Chautauqua County, N.Y. "The idea of getting a passport is too mind-boggling,"
she said.
An estimated 60 million Americans ? about 20% of the nation's population ? have passports.
The new rules, which would be phased in by 2008, apply to Americans traveling from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, the Caribbean and Panama. They also apply
to citizens from those countries who want to enter the United States ? prompting Canadian officials to announce that they might reciprocate.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said U.S. officials have been working with their international counterparts "for some time" to shore up security
measures without crimping the flow of commerce across borders. The new rules were called for in intelligence legislation that Congress passed last
year.
"It's part of the recognition that in 2001, when Sept. 11 happened ? and frankly before that, when you think about the millennium plot in 1999 ? these
were borders that I think no one could call secure," Rice said in an interview with The Associated Press.
Garrett Mesquita, a student at California State University at San Marcos, wasn't pleased by the step.
"I think it's a whole lot of trouble," said Mesquita, 23, who was crossing the border at San Ysidro Port of Entry, the world's busiest border
crossing, which links San Diego and Tijuana, Mexico. "I don't think it's necessary."
The new requirements would take effect on Dec. 31, 2007, for travelers entering the United States from Mexico and Canada by land, and on Dec. 31,
2006, by air or sea.
The deadline is a year earlier ? Dec. 31, 2005 ? for travel from Bermuda, the Caribbean and Panama. The proposed rules are scheduled to be finalized
this fall. Until then, the government will solicit comments from the public.
Currently, Americans generally need to show a driver's license or other government-issued photo identification to cross the border from Canada.
Customs officials usually require more proof from Americans returning from the other countries affected by the new rules, including both
government-issued photo IDs like a driver's license plus proof of citizenship like a birth certificate.
On occasion, Americans returning from these countries are allowed back after only verbally declaring their citizenship, said Homeland Security Deputy
Assistant Secretary Elaine K. Dezenski.
Once the new system takes effect, people entering the United States from Mexico will continue to be able to use a border crossing card or SENTRI card
instead of passports. These cards are obtained after background checks and other security measures. On the northern border, the NEXUS card for
preapproved, low-risk travelers, and the FAST card for commercial workers will be acceptable instead of a passport.
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rpleger
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Registered: 3-12-2005
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I kind of like the idea of passports to enter and leave. Keeps the riff raff out or in , which every way you look at it.
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New Passport Initiative Announced To Better Secure America?s Borders
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2005/44228.htm
Initiative Designed To Expedite Travel in the Western Hemisphere While Enhancing Security
The Departments of State and Homeland Security announced today the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative to secure and expedite travel. The Western
Hemisphere Travel Initiative will require all U.S. citizens, Canadians, citizens of the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda, and citizens of Mexico
to have a passport or other accepted secure document to enter or re-enter the U.S. by January 1, 2008.
Currently, U.S. citizens, and some citizens of other countries in the Western Hemisphere are not required to present a passport to enter or re-enter
the U. S. when traveling within the Western Hemisphere. The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (IRTPA, also known as the 9/11
Intelligence Bill), signed into law on December 17, 2004, mandated that the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of
State, develop and implement a plan to require U.S. citizens and foreign nationals to present a passport, or other secure document when entering the
United States.
To provide vital information to the general public, the Departments of Homeland Security (DHS) and State (DOS) are issuing an Advance Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) on the plan to the public and requesting input and/or comment on the suggested documents and possible alternative
documents that can meet the statutory requirements. A more formal rulemaking will be issued later this year following review of those comments to
implement the first phase of the initiative. This rulemaking will take into account comments received from the advanced notice as well as soliciting
further comments on the rulemaking itself.
"Our goal is to strengthen border security and expedite entry into the United States for U.S. citizens and legitimate foreign visitors," Homeland
Security Acting Under Secretary for Border and Transportation Security, Randy Beardsworth stated. "By ensuring that travelers possess secure
documents, such as the passport, Homeland Security will be able to conduct more effective and efficient interviews at our borders."
"We recognize the implications this might have for industry, business and the general public, as well as our neighboring countries, and they are
important partners in this initiative. The advanced notice of proposed rule making will allow these affected publics to voice concern and provide
ideas for alternate documents acceptable under the law," explained Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs, Maura Harty. "The overarching
need is to implement this legal requirement in a way that strengthens security while facilitating the movement of persons and goods."
DHS and DOS propose to roll out the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative in phases, providing as much advance notice as possible to the affected
public to enable them to acquire the necessary documents before the deadline.
As previously noted, the passport (U.S. or Foreign) will be the document of choice for entry or re-entry into the U.S. However, another document that
we anticipate will be acceptable under the travel initiative is the Border Crossing Card, (BCC ? or "laser visa"). Currently, the BCC serves in lieu
of a passport and a visa for citizens of Mexico traveling to the U.S. from contiguous territory. Other documents that we anticipate will be acceptable
under this Initiative are the Customs and Border Protection Secure Electronic Network for Travelers Rapid Inspection (SENTRI), NEXUS and Free and
Secure Trade (FAST) program cards.
Additional documents are also being examined to determine their acceptability for travel. The public will be notified of additional travel document
options as those determinations are made. The government would expect that acceptable documents must establish the citizenship and identity of the
bearer, enable electronic data verification and checking, and include significant security features. Ultimately, all documents used for travel to the
U.S. are expected to include biometrics that can be used to authenticate the document and verify identity.
For more information, visit:
http://www.travel.state.gov
http://www.dhs.gov
Released on April 5, 2005
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