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The opinions of individual BTA Border Blog contributors don't necessarily reflect the editorial position of Border Trade Alliance as a whole.

Monthly Archives: June 2007

Outside the Box - At Least Outside the Security Line…

Published by Director of Policy.
June 29, 2007 – 9:47 pm in Border Tech, Travel & Immigration 0 Comments

What will the future of travel and commerce at our ports of entry and at our borders look like? It could look similar to what has evolved as part of the Travel Security Administration’s (TSA) Registered Traveler program. The vast realm of new security requirements that evolved as a result of 9/11 have produced […]

Immigration Reform Bill Final Hours: Votes, Amendments, Implications - Border News Roundup

Published by Policy.
June 28, 2007 – 4:20 pm in Border News, Travel & Immigration 0 Comments

With the immigration reform bill facing a critical “test” vote today, Senate proponents continue to try creating a bill that will have the necessary votes to pass, in turn voting out potentially contentious amendments from both sides. Supporters of the bill must achieve 60 votes to limit debate, opening the door to […]

Immigration Reform: Shotguns and Clay Pigeons

Published by Director of Policy.
June 26, 2007 – 9:05 pm in Infrastructure, Legislation, Travel & Immigration 0 Comments

Today by a vote of 64-35 the Senate agreed to limit debate on the Comprehensive Immigration Reform measure. The move leaves 30 hours of debate to consider nearly two-dozen amendments pending to the legislation. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) in concert with Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) have agreed to pare down […]

BTA Op-Ed on the Prospects for Immigration Reform Published in Inside Tucson Business

Published by PR.
June 25, 2007 – 5:20 pm in Infrastructure, Border Tech, BTA in the News 0 Comments

Inside Tuscon Business and The Rio Grande Guardian recently published an Op-ed, by the Director of Public Policy, Matt Howe, on the marriage of immigration reform and border security. The following is an excerpt from the article:
The national debate over immigration reform and the ongoing regional debate over the construction of a fence […]

BTA Policy Coordinator quoted in Texas AP article on WHTI

Published by PR.
June 22, 2007 – 5:07 pm in Advocacy, Import & Export, BTA in the News 0 Comments

The article has been picked up by numerous Texas News sources, including the Houston Chronicle:
The following is an excerpt from the article:
The impending rule in January has rankled residents, city and business officials, particularly those in border states, where people frequently cross into Canada or Mexico to shop, dine, visit relatives or attend events.
The […]

Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI): Continued Concern over DHS Passport Implementation Deadline - BTA Border News

Published by Policy.
June 21, 2007 – 7:18 pm in Advocacy, Infrastructure, Border News, Travel & Immigration, BTA in the News 1 Comment

Despite a massive backlog of passports and so far lacking the implementation of new PASS Card technologies that could improve border wait times, Department of Homeland Security continues to provide an uncertain, and confusing implementation of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI). Border Trade Alliance (BTA) has been advocating for the implementation date […]

WHTI: Confusion and Concern

Published by President.
June 21, 2007 – 12:51 am in Advocacy, Legislation, Border News, Travel & Immigration, BTA in the News 1 Comment

BTA apprehensive of yet another ambiguous phase.
The Border Trade Alliance (BTA) is concerned that the June 20th’s announcement that the Department of State (DOS) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have revised their intended time frame to implement the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) for land and sea ports of entry. Last year Congress […]

BTA Opposes WHTI Amendment to DHS Spending Bill

Published by Accounting.
June 21, 2007 – 12:46 am in Advocacy, Legislation 0 Comments

Last week the BTA sent House Members a letter opposing an amendment offered by Rep. Ted Poe (R-TX) to the FY08 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations bill. The amendment would prohibit the development of the alternative passport documents or PASS Card and the use of other secured traveler documents, such as FAST and SENTRI […]

Immigration Reform and Border Security – Chicken or the Egg?

Published by Director of Policy.
June 18, 2007 – 9:40 pm in Infrastructure, Legislation, Border Tech, Travel & Immigration 2 Comments

Having pressed his case directly to Republican Senators, President Bush and the White House are proposing additional dollars toward border security in an attempt to gain traction with Senators opposed to immigration reform. The announcement by the Administration illustrates both its commitment toward immigration reform and its worry that without such a commitment […]

Border Security Spending Bill Drives Immigration Reform - BTA Border News

Published by Policy.
June 15, 2007 – 4:47 pm in Infrastructure, Border News, Travel & Immigration 0 Comments

The Homeland Security Appropriations bill (HR 2638) is currently the latest bargaining chip being used to resurrect the Immigration Reform Bill in the Senate. The Immigration Reform Bill was revived when President Bush called for $4.4 billion in border security spending to be added to the bill to win support for those in the […]

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