Chertoff: US Still Plans Passport Rule

The Guardian (UK) ^ | 4-19-2006 | Lara Jakes Jordan

[blam]

Chertoff: U.S. Still Plans Passport Rule

Wednesday April 19, 2006 1:31 AM

By LARA JAKES JORDAN

Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Bush administration said Tuesday it still plans to require passports from all foreigners entering the United States by the end of next year, despite calls for a delay by some Republicans worried about strained relations with Canada.

At issue is a 2004 law, being phased in over three years, to tighten U.S. borders against suspected terrorists and other criminals. But critics on both sides of the nation's northern border fear the passport requirement will hamper commerce and tourism between Canada and the U.S. - the world's largest trading bloc.

``We have to work with the law as it currently exists,'' Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said after a meeting with Canadian Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day. ``I think it's a deadline we can meet.''

Asked whether the U.S. would be ready with new technology and staffing demands to handle the stricter inspections by Dec. 31, 2007, Chertoff said: ``It seems to me way premature to raise the flag of defeat when I think we have ample precedent and ample ability to meet the deadline.''

[x1stcav]

A welcomed development.

I've had a form of national ID since the late 60's. It's called a passport.

[soycd]

Good! No passport, fingerprints, retina scan and stool samples then no entry. No more immigrants either until they prove they made an effort to clean up the trash from where they hail.

The liberals here and around the world (growing by the hour)
have allowed the trash to breed and disperse worldly. Clean
up the mess they created and then we'll talk about entry.

[LegendHasIt]

".....plans to require passports from all foreigners entering the United States by the end of next year, despite calls for a delay by some Republicans worried about strained relations with Canada.

Unless, of course, they cross the Southern border going north; In that case, there will be no further effort to screen or otherwise impede them.

[RegulatorCountry]

Am I overly optimistic in thinking that Mexicans will be considered "foreign" and be required to show a passport? Probably.

[taxed2death]

"The Bush administration said Tuesday it still plans to require passports from all foreigners entering the United States by the end of next year..."




This does not apply to the thousands of dishwashers and lawn cutters crossing over our borders every week though..... right Chertoff?

[blam]

"Am I overly optimistic in thinking that Mexicans will be considered "foreign" and be required to show a passport? Probably."

Of course, they're potentally Republican - Democrat voters...neither care about the future of our/their country.

[RegulatorCountry]

Getting hard to avoid that conclusion, isn't it?

[AFreeBird]

Great, another law that the mexicans can break with impunity.

And those here illegally? What do we do when we run across one of them; why we'll issue them a US passport so they'll be legal! Yea, that's the ticket; problem solved.

[USS Alaska]

I take my passport when I go to Canada, Mexico or Maryland. You should always take a US document when traveling in foreign lands. I also take my "right to carry card"; just to make them think.

[USS Alaska]

I take my passport when I go to Canada, Mexico or Maryland. You should always take a US document when traveling in foreign lands. I also take my "right to carry card"; just to make them think.

[goldstategop]

No, it doesn't include withdrawing the welcome mat for illegal aliens. They're kidding, right?

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

[ut1992]

Maryland, that's funny.

I also carry my passport at all times when in a foreign countries...yes, even Canada.

I guess I've never understood the issue with having to show passports at all US borders. I guess growing up in the military and traveling widely throughout the world as a kid, and now as an adult, carrying a military I.D./passport comes second nature to me; e.g. I have so many visas/stamps in my current passport that I customs folks have to squeeze in stamps. My passport is still good for two years so I guess they'll have to start stamping my forehead. haha!

[RS]

"Am I overly optimistic in thinking that Mexicans will be considered "foreign" and be required to show a passport? "

Well, considering that they are allready required to show a U.S. Government issued U.S. visa, would you trust that more then a Mexican Gov. issued Mexican passport ?

[RS]

"My passport is still good for two years so I guess they'll have to start stamping my forehead. haha!"

You can get extra visa pages for free -

http://foia.state.gov/FORMS/Passport/DS4085.pdf

For a couple of years OUR customs guys decided for some wacky reason they wanted to stamp it on return also, just wasting space.

[mkjessup]

I recall returning from a visit to Canada during the last year the abominable Trudeau was PM, and a U.S. Customs Officer asked me two questions, a.) Had I been to any Communist countries during my travels, and b.) Did I have anything to declare?

My answers?

a.) "I've been to Canada, does that count?"

b.) "Ah declare, it SURE is good to be back in the U.S.A.!"

He smiled and welcomed me home. :)

[sionnsar]

At issue is a 2004 law, being phased in over three years, to tighten U.S. borders against <>suspected terrorists and other criminals.

Curious phrasing... "suspected terrorist" are "criminals"? But then again, this is a 'jernalist' writing. Who cares about truth and/or accuracy?

[sionnsar]

At issue is a 2004 law, being phased in over three years, to tighten U.S. borders against <>suspected terrorists and other criminals.

Curious phrasing... "suspected terrorists" are "criminals"? But then again, this is a 'jernalist' writing. Who cares about truth and/or accuracy?

[ut1992]

I've had that experience as well. When I was in college in the '88 - '92 I was an exchange student at the University of Hannover (Germany) and we often drove to West Berlin on the weekends, and also throughout East Germany, Poland and Czechoslovakia (still one country at the time). My passport was full of "communist stamps". For years after those travels, and until my passport expired in 1998, I was constantly asked by customs officials at airports in the US, and surprisingly Frankfurt Airport, about my travels.

The US customs folks always had to do the "mysterious typing" on the computer when questioning me.

Now as an adult, I worked for several years in Amsterdam and when I flew to the U.S. During my time in A'dam I had to fly somewhere in the U.S. every 2-4 weeks on business. When I filled out my customs declaration form on every flight I had to indicate my current residence as A'dam. Well that caused my luggage to be searched probably 75% of the time. I guess the suit, briefcase (w/company logo) and suit bag didn't fool them....haha!

[ut1992]

Sorry, the new Army Brat family puppy just watered the carpet right next to me as I was typing....geez, I'll be glad when he finally realizes that his piddle will not make the carpet grow. Didn't edit my remarks before hitting post.