U.S. lawmakers agree to extend passport deadline (Re: Canada-U.S. border)

CTV.ca ^ | Tue. Sep. 26 2006 | Staff

[GMMAC]

U.S. lawmakers agree to extend passport deadline

CTV.ca News Staff
Updated Tue. Sep. 26 2006 1:23 PM ET

The deadline for tough new border identification requirements at Canada-U.S. border crossings will be extended for 17 months, U.S. lawmakers agreed Tuesday. The delay is included in a funding bill for the U.S. Homeland Security Department that permits new fencing along the U.S. border with Mexico aimed at stemming the flood of illegal immigrants.

Though it still needs to clear Congress, observers have indicated that they are certain that it will pass.

The vote could come as soon as Thursday before legislators from the bi-partisan committee hit the hustings for the mid-term elections in November.

The rule requiring passports or another high-technology document to enter the United States at land borders was meant to go into effect Jan. 1, 2008.

American officials had said they expect the Department of Homeland Security to soon publish the rules for the alternative secure ID card, which will likely be the size of a driver's licence and contain the same information as a passport.

But negotiators from the House of Representatives and Senate said they want to push back the rule requiring IDs to enter the U.S. at land borders to June 1, 2009. It's unclear how the 17-month extension will affect the rule that was to require Canadians entering the U.S. by air or sea to need passports starting Jan. 8, 2007.

Canadian officials have been saying for months that the time frame is too tight to institute the security measure without slowing traffic to a crawl at border crossings.

Business groups on both sides of the border have warned the new measures will not only impede trade but that it will discourage vacationers and cross-border shoppers.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper urged the U.S. to consider pushing back the deadline when he visited the White House in July.

At the time, U.S. President George Bush indicated that he wouldn't oppose the possibility if Congress decided to alter the deadline.

[GMMAC]

PING!

[PRND21]

Hue!

[conservative in nyc]

I'm kind of shocked that Congress will be able to pass this without Schumer and his ilk demagoguing their efforts.

Not pushing back the passport requirement for those arriving by plane won't have much of an effect. Most people who would pay more to fly to/from Canada probably have a passport already. And most Canadians live within 100 miles of the U.S. border, anyway. Anyone who doesn't have a passport can fly to the closest U.S. or Canadian border city (which is likely cheaper) and cross by land.

[CaptainCanada]

tough new border identification requirements

What am I missing??????????
I've been travelling into the States for the past 20 years with a passport...
This is tough new border measures???

[GMMAC]

"... pass this without Schumer and his ilk demagoguing their efforts."

Chuckie's wise to shut-up as it's a measure which scares the hell out of a lot of the business community across the Northern border of New York state.

While likely there'll be howling about this delay from folks who've either never been near the Canada-U.S. border and/or haven't any familial or other significant cross-border ties but, requiring additional documentation does little or nothing to increase security while creating especially trade &, to a lesser extent, tourism bottlenecks.

It's probably an easy sell to folks Stateside who won't be directly negatively impacted but those on both sides of the border who will be may well pay a high economic price for what largely amounts to feel-good smoke & mirrors.

It will add to overall bureaucratic costs and represent a tax-grab (passport fees) where law-abiding citizens are concerned but won't deter undesirables from forging or stealing whatever additional documents they'll eventually require.

What's really needed in both nations: MORE PROFILING !!!

[Clive]

I have been travelling into the US for longer than that without a passport.

All I needed was my driver's licence and often not even that was asked.

On September 12, 2001 I went to the passport office and picked up the forms, fully expecting that I would soon have to show a passport. My passport hss now expired and I never had to show it.

The last time I went to the US, I was asked to show some form of identification (not specifically a passport) so The XYL and I showed our passports just to justify having paid all that money for them.

The US customs officer did not even open the covers.

I had more trouble coming back but that was because I had to declare some purchases.

[CaptainCanada]

I had to declare some purchases.

You declare purchases? Well, I knew there had to be at least one.. ;)

[GMMAC]

C'mon, ya gotta to declare something or for sure they'll tear your car apart looking for your booze & smokes !!!

Sheesh - get with the program !!!

[Marine Inspector]

What's really needed in both nations: MORE PROFILING !!!

We already do that in CBP, at all of our crossings, and if you think this new passport requirement is smoke and mirrors and won't deter undesirables, you are sadly mistaken.

[CaptainCanada]

this new passport requirement is smoke and mirrors and won't deter undesirables, you are sadly mistaken.

I assume this new requirement applies only to your northern neighbours and that your southern neighbours will remain exempt and will continue to cross the border without any documentation? ;)

[Marine Inspector]

assume this new requirement applies only to your northern neighbours

No, it applies to all but 1 nation.

and that your southern neighbours will remain exempt and will continue to cross the border without any documentation? ;)

Yep, for some reason the idiots that run this country have not figured out the more Americans die at the hands of illegal immigrants, for which Mexico accounts for about 80%, then by terrorists.

[conservative in nyc]

I assume this new requirement applies only to your northern neighbours and that your southern neighbours will remain exempt and will continue to cross the border without any documentation?

In theory, Mexicans currently need a visa and passport to enter the U.S. (but U.S. citizens don't need a passport to come back from Mexico). Many Mexican citizens from the Mexican border states legally cross the border every day go to shopping and visit relatives in border towns by using "laser visa" border crossing cards. These cards are similar to what the Canadian probably wants to be issued to its citizens crossing the border (or some sort of information added to current drivers' licenses). As for the illegals, well...

U.S. passports are usually good for 10 years. Are Canadian passports valid for a shorter time?

[Marine Inspector]

In theory, Mexicans currently need a visa and passport to enter the U.S.

Mexicans either need a passport and visa or a border crossing card. Most have a border crossing card.

[Clive]

Canadian passports expire at 5 years.

[John123]

We already do that in CBP, at all of our crossings,

Are you on the level? Canada actually profiles for Muslim males between the age of 20-30?

[Marine Inspector]

Are you on the level?

Yes.

CBP prefers to use the PC term 'targeting'. But I call it for what it is. Profiling.

[John123]

Will the CBP be allowed to carry weapons?

[conservative in nyc]

Will the CBP be allowed to carry weapons?

I think CBP is short for the U.S. Bureau of Customs and Border Protection. Canada's borders are policed by their CCRA (Canada Customs and Revenue Agency). The Harper government is slowly beginning to arm CCRA agents.

[conservative in nyc]

Actually, I got the name of the relevant Canadian wrong. It's been known as the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) since December 2003.