relaxed passport rules, feds are behind!!

from the BBP:

"I have been a US Customs Pilot for the past 20 years and have been flying into Mexico and South America for the last 30 years both on the job and for pleasure.
I know the rules, policies and statutes that involve the border crossing of aircraft.

Do not let the threat of a fine worry you or stop you from flying to Mexico without a passport at this time, The passport requirement push from DHS has been relieved until the end of September 2007. Take all available documents to show your residence and birth location to include DL and Marrage certificates (mostly for Mexico), if your flying down with your grandchildren then have the proper notarized letters.

The requirement to have your passport is in its first stage and if you do not have it they should educate you and give you a flyer to advise you of your requirements to have a passport. When the second stage is implemented is a political matter, because the passport office is so far behind process application its creating problems with the timeline.

The inspector may add a record to the Private Aircraft Enforcement System to say you have been advised but it will not reflect or cause a fine to be administered. Their is no process to initiate a monitary fine for a requirement that is in the education stage. Do not let them intimidate you. Currently, arrivals in Calexico will be asked if the passengers have applied for their passports and depending on your answer they will either give you the panphlet/flyer or process you through. Brown Field is way out in left field, if your have a problem take the Officers name and badge number and ask for his supervisors name. Then E-mail your local Congressman or woman.

Please be sure the inspector is inflicting an actionable threat at that time or is he/she just advising you what can happen later if you fail to have a passport.

My wife was born in Mexico and is a US Citizen. Last September I had to apply for another copy of her Naturalization papers so I may apply for her passport. I have just received the documents and now applying for her passport. I flew across the border to clear at Brown Field one week after the first stage was initiated and the inspector actually threatened my wife with a fine and that it could hold up her becoming a citizen. I held my cool and indicated she was already a US Citizen and told him I worked for Customs and Border Protection as a pilot and after he was going to let me go with a warning, I advised him to do his job and complete the paperwork.

Im sorry the private pilots have been treated with this attitude and I have been working internally to reduce the elevated stress this is causing. I fully understand the need for all traveling U.S. Citizens to have a passport for the Inspector (and myself) to do his job effectively.

The bottom line is get you passport application in the system and make sure you carry the document that says you have applied for your passport until you receive it."

so relax everyone going by air.

Thanks for this info. I was afraid my son would not be able to come see me any time soon because of passport hang ups.