Posted on 07/27/2005 6:01:51 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
TORONTO - A U.S. security official said Wednesday it will use wireless technology at five border posts with Canada and Mexico to track foreigners driving in and out of the United States.
Bob Mocny of the Department of Homeland Security said wireless chips for vehicles would become mandatory at designated border crossings in Canada and Mexico as of Aug. 4.
Border authorities will provide a chip that drivers will put on the dashboard of vehicles.
Antennas have been installed at the border crossings at Thousand Islands Bridge in Alexandria Bay, N.Y., and Blaine, Wash. crossings for the Pacific Highway and Peace Arch, Mocny said. The technology also will be launched next week at two crossings between Mexico and Nogales, Ariz.
"This is a major transformation of how we are going to be gathering information about entries and exits along the border," Mocny said at a news conference. "The fundamental obligation of our governments is to protect our citizens."
The program will apply to all foreigners with U.S. visas.
The American Civil Liberties Union has expressed concern that the program violates privacy rights for "third country nationals." Some immigrant groups also have argued that the technology would target Muslims.
But Homeland Security officials insist weeding out potential terrorists is a must.
The radio frequency program — known as RFID — is an expansion of the US-VISIT program launched last year at 115 airports, 15 sea ports and 50 of the busiest land border crossings along the U.S. borders with Canada and Mexico.
Under that program, foreigners are fingerprinted and photographed and those details are fed into federal databases.
____
On the Net:
Department of Homeland Security: http://www.dhs.gov
The rental car companies are gonna love that....
Oh just shut up, you commies.
Lawsuit coming up.
"Welcome to America. While you're here, you have to wear this GPS locator. If you take it off, it will scream bloody murder to the computer and a special reaction team will come to collect you and deport you immediately. If you somehow escape and are apprehended later, you will be shot on sight. Have a nice stay!"
I *really* don't have a problem with tagging non-citizens.
Wait ---- Wait, I got it. It's gonna be aganst the law!
Well, that's that. No way to get around this safeguard!
You tax dollars at work.
Good thing the terrorists were willing to wait...
Since when do "third country nationals" have ANY constitutional rights?
We'll still do that, we'll just not tell them about it. We'll inject it into them in the guise of "mandatory immunizations".
If they get more than 30' away from the bracelet unit, BOOM!
"So what keeps Abdul from tossing his chip into the back of Bubba's pick-up truck? Wait ---- Wait, I got it. It's gonna be aganst the law!"
My initial reaction as I started to read article. Heaven knows how many hundred million will be spent on this useless gimmick.
Use Superglue and attach it to the dashboard....
"Use Superglue and attach it to the dashboard...."
Heh heh. Imagine some Jihadist pulling off the road after passing through boarder checkpoint. Whipping out a crowbar and trying to rip the transmitter off the dashboard. Of course a hammer might be more effective and quicker. These units are going to have to be hammer, bullet, nuclear, chemical proof. Probably 100 proof. Of course some small company, say, Ultra High Tech Industries Lmtd., will only charge the government (US of course, we will pick up the tab for the Canadians, mustn't appear unfriendly or noncaring),
$1000 per unit. And I am sure our government will make sure a 10 minute guarantee will be included.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.