Canada NEWS

[oncedrove]

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Americans will need passports to re-enter the United States from Canada, Mexico, Panama and Bermuda by 2008, part of a tightening of U.S. border controls in an era of terrorist threat, three administration officials said Tuesday.

Similarly, Canadians will also have to present a passport to enter the United States, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity. Canadians have been the only foreigners allowed to enter the United States with just a driver's license.

An announcement, expected later Tuesday at the State Department, will specify that a passport or another valid travel document will have to be shown by U.S. citizens, the officials said.

Until now, Americans returning home from Canada have needed only to show a driver's license or other government-issued photo identification card.

U.S. inspectors will bear less of a burden with the changes because they won't have to sift through different kinds of travel documents, the officials said.

GJ

 

[LDB]

So they're going to make U.S. citizens show a passport but they still won't have done anything to control the borders, especially the southern border. While illegals swarm into the U.S. our friends in Mexico have an armed southern border to keep out Guatemalans and other central and south Americans. It's time we do the same. Guess I'll have to go renew that passport afterall.

Leo
truck 4958

Support the entire Constitution, not just the parts you like.

 

[redytrk]

The forgers have no problem making passports these days.With todays technology its easier than a drivers license.

 

[RobA]

I don't believe it is a "traditional" passport with picture, pages and stamps etc but a biometric card. That will show finger prints or an iris scan and thus be unforgable.

 

[Lawrence]

Sad day indeed. I think this is a big step back for US/Canadian relations. It will take decades to heal.

Lawrence,
Expediters Online.com


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[oncedrove]

Beginning in 2008, U.S. citizens will be required to show their passports when returning from Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean, but truckers who regularly cross the border will be able to show their Free and Secure Trade cards instead.

The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative goes into effect Jan. 1, 2008. It is supposed to prevent potential terrorists from crossing into the country through other North American countries.

“Our goal is to strengthen border security and expedite entry into the United States for U.S. citizens and legitimate foreign visitors,” said Randy Beardsworth, an acting undersecretary in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

U.S. citizens are now required to show only their driver's licenses to re-enter from Mexico and Canada. Some border crossing officials have begun asking for additional documents since Sept. 11, 2001. It is estimated that only 20 percent of Americans have a passport.

The FAST card would be an acceptable passport substitute for “commercial truck drivers at both the northern and southern borders,” said Elaine Dezenski, an acting assistant secretary in the Department of Homeland Security.

“With the FAST program, we have specific requirements, including background checks, documentation requirements and biometric requirements,” Dezenski said.

The FAST program as originally announced by U.S. Customs was voluntary, a way for drivers, fleets, importers and border manufacturers to earn expedited “low-risk” border clearance – even in times of heightened security alerts – by submitting a one-time-only application, including a security profile.

The latest announcement, however, means either a FAST card or a passport soon will be mandatory for the return trip of any cross-border haul.

GJ

 

[bryan]

HI
Im afraid your right Lawence. Before about Sept. 30,2001 I loved going to Canada.I felt nothing could ever get in the way of our countries friendship.Now I just don't know. We can only hope cooler heads prevail. Still have alot of friends up north.It's harder to spend a weekend with them as US Customs wants to know why I was away for so long."Times, They are a changing"