Border security now -- not mañana

PittsburghLive.com ^ | April 10, 2005 | Dimitri Vassilaros

[Marine Inspector]

Since the federal government proposes phasing in its new passport policy by 2008 -- and since it is designed to further secure our borders after 9/11 -- why wasn't it proposed on 9/12? Or in 1999?

[ArmyTeach]

True, but will that continue to be the case if and when passports and implemented? I could be flying to Mexicon on Alaska Air.

[WoofDog123]

" I don’t know about the U.S. Embassy Marines and their needs."

I think AD and personnel overseas all have to have passports.

[WoofDog123]

"I think AD and personnel overseas all have to have passports."

should read

I think AD personnel overseas all have to have passports. (*omit 'and')

[dalereed]

" I could be flying to Mexicon on Alaska Air"

You would only need it to get back from Mexico. Going into Mexico on Alaska you would only make out a visa card handed to you on the flight.

[Gatún(CraigIsaMangoTreeLawyer)]

If you don't have a passport, it's time you should get one. It will make your life easier. I don't know how long it takes to get it when one lives in the States. In Panama, it takes two weeks to renew a passport. The U.S. Consul sends the request to the States where the passport is put together. I could be wrong, but I think you can do yours through the mail. You can look this information up in Google.

[HiJinx]

Here's one ripe for discussion...

[peyton randolph]

why wasn't it proposed on 9/12?

Because TSA was the perfect way to mistreat WASPs while ignoring real security risks. With the TSA being disbanded, a new way to look useful while engaging in WASP profiling had to be established. We must pretend that John Smith, Jane Doe, et al are security risks while giving a free pass to Achmed, Mohammed, et al. Thanks to Mineta, the ACLU, and a runaway judiciary, we ignore that most acts of terrorism against U.S. citizens have been committed by Muslims from Middle East countries.

[raybbr]

Welcome. Well said.

[raybbr]

And speaking about strengthening border security by taking every precaution to screen out people who want to hurt us, what about the Mexican border?

If it takes the government about a decade after a terrorist plot to strengthen border security with the proposed document policy, what will it take -- and how long will it take after it happens -- to strengthen border security to stop the undocumented from walking in?

That's the $64,000 question isn't it? Maybe Bush knows this and he's willing to give them legal status with a wave of his hand. Bush must know, like we do, that any plan creating a new bureaucracy will be unworkable and this is why he claims "fast-track" if you will regarding his plan.

It doesn't change my mind. If anything it makes it worse. It shows that Bush is unwilling to take any steps to stem the flow from south of the border.

[Americanexpat]

I didn´t know that either. I have always had to have a passport to come in and out of Panama as well as the states.

[Americanexpat]

Well said.


Peole spend all this time damning the country about loose borders then cry because they have to have a damn passport.

[Ron H.]

All good ideas you suggest but I suspect that this isn't the site to discuss your ideas in any detail as any participants might just get the boot for making constructive suggestions. One wouldn't want to offend the sensibilities of some of the FrOBL's around here.

[B4Ranch]

As long as people can discuss ideas without trying to stomp on the Presidents head in every other post, FR will be an excellect forum to determine how to control the illegal immigration.

There is enough brains here to send a man to the moon, we should be able to determine how to build a fence on our other American citizens private property that borders with Mexico.

A thread that leaves the country leaders names out of it and stays on topic should be constructive. Don't take the bait when a FROBL throws it at you. Walk on by.

[B4Ranch]

Which fence would you rather cross if you were sneaking past the Border patrol?

[Americanexpat]

Construct the fence. Maybe claim imminent domain for private property. I am not a lawyer. You would think most people with property along the border wouldn't´t mind a fence, then again maybe they have reasons for not wanting it.

[FBD]

Howdy sonali,

Pleased to make your acquaintance.

Please explain something to me. All South Americans and some islanders are lumped in together, as being "Hispanic". I note that you do not use that reference to yourself, but use the word latino. I believed that hispanic refered to Spanish speaking rather then race. Is that true? Also; is the "Hispanic" reference used in South America??

[calawah98]

I really think that commercials work the best. I know they are expensive.

If a person could get all the anti immigration folks an organizations to come together under one roof an donate to doing this it might work. One thing about commericals, you can show them any time of the day. I really believe that would get the message out better than any other way.

Take every thing off the tapes, people have all taken, from garbage to every thing else an condense it into a couple different commericals.

[risk]

Granny has nail clippers! Man battle stations...

[lainde]

bttt

[Ron H.]

All the same, like others here I'll pass.