US officials won't enforce new border ID rules

[Kathryn41 3,205]

U.S. officials won't enforce new border ID rules

Last Updated: Thursday, January 31, 2008 | 2:15 PM ET

CBC News

A U.S. law requiring Canadians to show proof of citizenship when crossing the border by land or sea takes effect Thursday, but to appease some politicians, American customs officials say it won't be enforced for at least another 18 months.

For months, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security had said that as of Thursday, Canadian and U.S. citizens entering the United States by land and sea would have to show ID, such as a passport, or birth certificate combined with photo ID, proving their nationality, under rules adopted in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

(photo of passport) A passport or special travel card will be required for all trips to the U.S. starting in June 2009, but for now, Canadians entering by land or sea can get in without any proof of citizenship.A passport or special travel card will be required for all trips to the U.S. starting in June 2009, but for now, Canadians entering by land or sea can get in without any proof of citizenship.

(Tom Hanson/Canadian Press)

Air travellers have had to show proof of citizenship since January 2007.

But U.S. border officials now say travellers without proper documentation will be allowed into the U.S. until June 2009, and will receive an educational flyer instead of being turned away.

"What we will do is briefly explain to them that they're not in compliance," said Kevin Corsaro, a supervisory officer in the Buffalo, N.Y., field office of U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

"We'll give them a tear sheet that explains how to become compliant, and they'll be able to proceed on with their trip.

"This is an educational process," said Corsaro. "We will not refuse a Canadian citizen entry into this country, into the United States, if their only violation is that they do not have proof of citizenship."

Asking for reprieve

The move to relax ID requirements comes after a group of 19 U.S. senators wrote Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff.

Their letter asks Chertoff to continue the system of allowing Canadians and Americans to cross land and sea borders by presenting any government-issued photo ID, such as a driver's licence, and making an oral declaration of citizenship.

The senators — led by Patrick Leahy of Vermont, Ted Stevens of Alaska and Charles Schumer of New York — said Homeland Security should hold off on any changes until June 2009, when the U.S. Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative goes into full effect and passports will be required to cross all U.S. borders.

"We have the longest, most peaceful, friendliest border in the world. We gotta be cherishing that instead of trying to make that border look like a security threat," Leahy told CBC News.

"These new ideas are not going to make either Canada or the United States more secure. We will end up losing hundreds of billions of dollars worth of jobs."

More than 800,000 people enter the U.S. through land and sea ports each day. Between October and December, agents say, they caught more than 1,500 people making false oral declarations.

[Cassie 8]

I do not want to hear about how terrorists come to the US from Canada (which is a load of ####### anyways) anymore after this.

Edited February 1, 2008 by Cassie

[Reba 2]

A U.S. law requiring Canadians to show proof of citizenship when crossing the border by land or sea takes effect Thursday, but to appease some politicians, American customs officials say it won't be enforced for at least another 18 months.

In another article I read, it said they'd be giving a grace period of a "couple of weeks". So probably a good idea to just insist to your Canadian family to go ahead and get their dang passports already! Quit stalling!

[Carlawarla 1]

I do not want to hear about how terrorists come to the US from Canada (which is a load of ####### anyways) anymore after this.

REALLY! Geesh!

[Emancipation 2]

I do not want to hear about how terrorists come to the US from Canada (which is a load of ####### anyways) anymore after this.

[JoeCanuk 3]

What is this #######? I had crossed the border hundreds of times since I was a CHILD. And I always had to have proof of citizenship. And they always asked to see it.

[JoeCanuk 3]

And passports are not going to prevent terrorist attacks. If they could, wouldn't they have "implemented" this "new law" say...oh...seven years ago?!

[Marilyn. 340]

What is this #######? I had crossed the border hundreds of times since I was a CHILD. And I always had to have proof of citizenship. And they always asked to see it.

I crossed the border a lot of times too and they only asked for my DL....

[JoeCanuk 3]

What is this #######? I had crossed the border hundreds of times since I was a CHILD. And I always had to have proof of citizenship. And they always asked to see it.

I crossed the border a lot of times too and they only asked for my DL....

That's odd. It couldn't have been Detroit then eh?

Well, since I was a kid I had to show my birth certificate. And sometimes they even asked to see my student card from school.

[Marilyn. 340]

well, yeah when I was kid I had to show my Birth certificate because I didn't have a DL yet...

[JoeCanuk 3]

well, yeah when I was kid I had to show my Birth certificate because I didn't have a DL yet...

My mom doesn't have a DL and shows a birth certificate and health card. And I'm guessing you never crossed at Detroit because they never accept just a DL by itself.

So basically, you agree that the rule has always been there to show proof of citizenship and photo id?

Edited February 1, 2008 by JoeCanuk

[Marilyn. 340]

I don't think it was an official rule seeing as how me and lots of people I know crossed the border lots of times just using our DL but now it is official and everyone will have to show their birth certificate or some sort of proof of citizenship....

and no I have never crossed at Detroit most of my crossings where at the BC border....

just because one POE decided to not just accept DL's doesn't mean it is an official rule across the board

[trailmix 77]

well, yeah when I was kid I had to show my Birth certificate because I didn't have a DL yet...

My mom doesn't have a DL and shows a birth certificate and health card. And I'm guessing you never crossed at Detroit because they never accept just a DL by itself.

So basically, you agree that the rule has always been there to show proof of citizenship and photo id?

I don't think I have ever been asked for my Birth Certificate, have just shown my driver's license - they have never asked me for additional I.D. - Joe you must look suspicious!!

Oh and I've only ever crossed the land border in Alberta and B.C..

Edited February 1, 2008 by trailmix

[Flames9_RN 358]

Before 9/11 I traveled to San Diego from Victoria on a military course and forgot my passport at home. Al I had was my military ID and DL. Getting into the USA was no problem, BUT coming back to canada, the Canadians agent gave me a real hassle. Pulled me aside, made me stand there for a bit, looked after a few other poeple, then sent me on my way,lol!! Was almost like she gave me a "time-out!!" lol

[trailmix 77]

Before 9/11 I traveled to San Diego from Victoria on a military course and forgot my passport at home. Al I had was my military ID and DL. Getting into the USA was no problem, BUT coming back to canada, the Canadians agent gave me a real hassle. Pulled me aside, made me stand there for a bit, looked after a few other poeple, then sent me on my way,lol!! Was almost like she gave me a "time-out!!" lol

Did they make you sit in the naughty chair?