WASHINGTON - New border crossing rules to take effect at the end of the month will initially mean longer lines for those entering the country,
including returning Americans, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said Thursday. But he said the rules are necessary to prevent another
Sept. 11-style attack.
Critics of the effort need to "grow up," Chertoff said in an Associated Press interview.
Starting Jan. 31, a driver's license and oral declaration of citizenship will no longer be enough to enter the United States for Americans and
Canadians age 19 and older. People will have to present proof of citizenship, usually in the form of a passport or a birth certificate. A driver's
license is not proof of citizenship.
Chertoff said longer lines at the border in the early days of the new policy are inevitable. "Until people get the message, there will be some
delays," he said.
But he added that should change once people get used to the new system, and border agents will be flexible in applying the new rules at the beginning.
Not implementing these changes would be a tragic mistake, Chertoff said. "I can guarantee if we don't make this change, eventually there will come a
time when someone will come across the border exploiting the vulnerabilities in the system and some bad stuff will happen. And then there'll be
another 9/11 commission and we'll have people come saying 'Why didn't we do this?'"
Chertoff bristled at criticism that such extra security may prove too inconvenient for those crossing the northern and southern borders.
"It's time to grow up and recognize that if we're serious about this threat, we've got to take reasonable, measured but nevertheless determined steps
to getting better security," Chertoff said.
Chertoff said he was surprised to learn that simply stating "I am an American" and showing an ID card has been sufficient to get back into the country
and likened it to an honor system. "I don't think in this day and age we can afford the honor system for entering the United States," he said.
"Regrettably, we live in a world in which people lie sometimes about their identity."Von - 1-17-2008 at 08:49 PM
Hes what I called a CHORIZO! and smells like a my toilet after a hangover sessionfdt - 1-17-2008 at 10:00 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by Ken Cooke
Critics of the effort need to "grow up,"
Or don't grow up, just get a Sentri
Quote:
Originally posted by Ken Cooke
"Regrettably, we live in a world in which people lie sometimes about their identity."
No way, really?Oso - 1-18-2008 at 05:05 PM
Grow up? Jerkoff needs to shut up. I live two miles from one border, he lives more than a thousand from either. He doesn't know and he doesn't care
what is happening to the local economies on either side here.
That said, I do not mind showing proof of citizenship. I have a passport but the passport card, if and when available, will be more convenient to
carry. I don't mind having my tags run through a computer check. I don't mind the dog sniffing my truck. I don't mind a reasonable quick
inspection and I admit that the last dozen times coming back across, the process, once I got to the booth was no big deal. What I do
mind is the two freakin' hours crawling along to get to the booth. This is not due to Jerkoff's policy or Custom's Agents doing
their job. It is due to the obsolete inadequacy of our POEs which were designed and built decades ago when cross-border traffic was much, much less.
(and the illegals could just go around).
Grow UP !
MrBillM - 1-18-2008 at 05:11 PM
There is absolutely nothing wrong with what he said. It reflects accurately the situation.
ANYONE who is offended by his remarks does, Indeed, need to grow up and stop whining.
This is the way it's going to be. PERIOD. If you don't like it, stay in Mexico. You won't be missed.Oso - 1-18-2008 at 05:23 PM
One cheek for Michael, one for you. Pucker up. comitan - 1-18-2008 at 05:37 PM
OSO
Well said.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Packoderm - 1-18-2008 at 05:39 PM
I somehow doubt that if really bad things were to make it across the border that it will be through any of the official border crossings. If they were
really serious about stopping contraband, they could do something without the DMV style lines. They could privatize some of the crossings to see how
that works with rewards for speed and thoroughness. They could put lower level guards, with dogs, on duty to pre-interrogate the people in the cars
that are lined up. They could criminalize illegal immigration by incurring prison sentences to discourage such activity.Oso - 1-18-2008 at 05:43 PM
PROFILING is not necessarily a bad thing.vandenberg - 1-18-2008 at 05:53 PM
They stop me every time.
Hook - 1-18-2008 at 07:02 PM
So, why is requiring two forms of ID, instead of verbally convincing a border patrol agent of your citizenship, going to take LONGER ?????????
If they dont got the two forms of ID, SEND EM TO SECONDARIO AND SIGNAL THE NEXT VEHICLE IN LINE!
[Edited on 1-19-2008 by Hook]Roberto - 1-18-2008 at 07:54 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by Hook
So, why is requiring two forms of ID, instead of verbally convincing a border patrol agent of your citizenship, going to take LONGER ?????????
What's your guess on the percentage of people who will show up with the wrong documentation in, say the first six months?
Somewhere in that press release I saw the mention of "flexibility" - how expensive do you think that will be? If it were me, I'd throw all folks who
show up unprepared in the pokey for 24 hours, but that may not work so well ... Roberto - 1-18-2008 at 07:55 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by Oso
PROFILING is not necessarily a bad thing.
Oso, how DARE you! You just lost your ACLU membership. gibson - 1-18-2008 at 08:52 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by MrBillM
There is absolutely nothing wrong with what he said. It reflects accurately the situation.
ANYONE who is offended by his remarks does, Indeed, need to grow up and stop whining.
This is the way it's going to be. PERIOD. If you don't like it, stay in Mexico. You won't be missed.
fear fear fear fear fearfear fear bla blahdy blah
just like the religeous wackos...sinsin sin sin sin blady blabla
hope the kool-aid at least tastes goodVon - 1-18-2008 at 09:21 PM
To many wackosand more wackos
What we need is some deep fried lobster in BUTTER Boys and Girls..Wingnut - 1-21-2008 at 03:53 PM
There is something to what Oso says, most of our Ports of Entry are not set up to handle the volume. Perhaps if we provided a larger area and more
booths to do the checks, things would move smoother. Let's see, if the line backs up for 2 and a half hours waiting to get to the POE, we just need to
usurp the local ownership of the land on the Mexican side of the border and make more highways leading up to the POE...easy enough done, just steal
the property from the owners and create a massive parking lot!! Then all the border patrol guys can line up elsewhere because no self respecting
illegal would be caught dead waiting 2 and 1/2 hours to cross.......yeah that makes sense.CaboRon - 1-21-2008 at 08:16 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by Von
To many wackosand more wackos
What we need is some deep fried lobster in BUTTER Boys and Girls..
YEA ! And why was it I have to grow up anyway ?
I don't wanna
CaboRonVon - 1-21-2008 at 08:19 PM
More butter pleaze!tjBill - 1-21-2008 at 11:25 PM
And the Sentri lines are getting backed up.
Around Christmas i waited 1 1/2 hours cross. Sunman - 1-22-2008 at 11:08 AM
I don't see the big deal, once the knuckleheads that don't read or pay attention to the rules get it through their thick heads to comply, things will
return to normal. This is not news and has been proposed for a long time, now it's time to enforce. Jeeze.Woooosh - 1-22-2008 at 01:35 PM
They could do one of two things- they've had time to do both...
1. Double-up (piggyback) the inspection booths so two cars at once can be processed. Cuts the line by 50%
2. A border crossing for US citizens only at the end of the toll road in Playas de Tijauna and directly into Imperial Beach. No TJ, no running the
gauntlet. This would be ahuge boost for Rosarito/Ensenda as TJ is the most negative aspect of the trip for most. JMHO thoughBarry A. - 1-22-2008 at 02:17 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by Sunman
I don't see the big deal, once the knuckleheads that don't read or pay attention to the rules get it through their thick heads to comply, things will
return to normal. This is not news and has been proposed for a long time, now it's time to enforce. Jeeze.
