Immigration Law

New Requirements on Border ID Cause Worries at Crossings

By Robert Kraft

Big changes are coming on June 1, 2009, for Americans who return to the United States after trips to Mexico or Canada, or who come back from a cruise. These changes have caused concern about an adverse effect on trade between Canada and the United States. The details were provided by an article in the New York Times. Here are the opening paragraphs:

After years of delay and hundreds of millions of dollars in preparations, Customs and Border Protection officials said new security measures would go into effect on June 1, requiring Americans entering the country by land or sea to show government-approved identification.

Currently, Americans crossing borders or arriving on cruise ships can prove their nationality by showing thousands of other forms of identification. But after the start of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, Americans will be required to present a passport or one of five other secure identification cards.

Coming as the summer vacation season starts, the measure is expected to lengthen lines at least temporarily at border crossings and seaports. But the biggest impact is expected along the nearly 4,000-mile border that the United States shares with Canada, which both countries once boasted was the world's longest undefended frontier.

Before the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Americans and Canadians crossing that border were required to do little more than state their nationality. Security has been gradually increased since then, causing longer lines and a steady drop in casual cross-border excursions, according to business and travel associations that monitor border traffic.

Full post as published by Immigration Law Answers Blog on May 25, 2009 (boomark / email).