Homeland Security Locks Horns With Congress: Get Ready for Tighter Border Crossings
Last month the US Congress passed legislation that was thought to put off tighter identification requirements for folks crossing the US borders by land. Now the Department of Homeland Security has fired a shot back at Congress: Expect tighter identification requirements by the end of the month when making land crossings.In a terse statement, apparently aimed at congressional leaders, Homeland Security chief Michael Chertoff said it was, "Time to grow up and recognize that if we're serious about this threat [that of terrorist activity], we've got to take reasonable, measured, but nevertheless determined steps to getting better security." It didn't take long to get a response from Congress.
Noting that Chertoff's department was forced to temporarily suspend a similar requirement for air travelers last summer when the rule caused a massive U.S. passport backlog, Representative Thomas M. Reynolds (R-N.Y.) said that Chertoff, "frankly has as much credibility on telling people to grow up as Geoffrey the giraffe." Geoffrey is the advertising mascot of America's largest toy retailer, Toys R Us.
What's the bottom line? At this stage of the "chess game" between Homeland Security and Congress, it looks as though Congress is on the losing end. Chertoff says travelers entering the US will need to do more than just declare their citizenship verbally, they'll need to prove it. If they don't have a passport, an "enhanced driver license," or border pass card, then a photo identification plus proof of citizenship (such as a birth certificate) will be required.
For more information, visit The Washington Post.
Labels: border crossings, Passports
posted by Russ and Tiña De Maris at
10:13 AM
4 Comments:
It's about time SOMEBODY got TOUGH about border security!
By
Mike Kreuzer, at January 26, 2008 7:19 AM
They are making it harder for a United States citizen to get back home than it is for an illegal alien to get into America.
I was at the tiny town of Los Algodones, Mex. last week. There wasn't even a local policeman at the gate going into Mexico. Getting back into the US. I stood in a line that had to be close to a mile long for over three hours. Thousands of blue haired snowbirds go there for optical and dental work because we can't afford the ridiculous prices charged in America. I doubt if there was any terrorists in that line.
About the same time there were Hummers and pickups smuggling drugs, people and who knows what across the border and even killing American border patrolmen. All this going on while some of our border patrolmen are sitting in prison for trying to protect our border.
Is there something wrong with this picture?
By
fiveounce, at January 26, 2008 8:41 AM
As a Canadian I am glad to see this maybe if they don't want my tourist dollars we should stop exporting our gas and oil also the sooner the better !!!
By
bankedtime, at January 26, 2008 8:53 AM
I remember the summer after 9/11. For years, we had been crossing into Windsor, Canada to visit friends or sight see - and not once had anyone asked for any id beyond our driver's license. The summer after 9/11, we were asked for our birth certificates and given an extremely difficult time when my husband couldn't produce his. He could prove he was a disabled American veteran, but that wasn't good enough. Quite an eye opener! Now we travel with all of our identification all the time. I'm not crazy about this whole "One ID" thing - I think it's going to make things VERY difficult for full time RVers. One of the things you have to prove is where you live - if you're full time, just how are you supposed to do THAT?
By
RVingMom, at January 28, 2008 5:59 AM
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