Border Trade Alliance

Border Trade Alliance (BTA) has reported on the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) several times this past year because of the imminent deadlines set by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). For many, WHTI has been a cause of great concern and confusion. What is it about this travel initiative that makes it the source of controversy, so much so that in October BTA was quoted in an article about the border wait times and the travel initiative on front page of the New York Times?

Well for starters, the increase in inspections and wait times that were covered nation wide, as well as in Mexico and Canada, were partially blamed on WHTI. While many factors contributed to these wait times, many felt that it was DHS’ and Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) attempts to ease the public into the requirements of WHTI that led to the increase in drivers license checks and inspections that ultimately resulted in longer wait times at the ports of entry.

So What Exactly Is WHTI?

In April 2005, the U.S. Departments of State and Homeland Security announced the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative − the departments’ joint plan to implement a congressional mandate expressed in the 2004 Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act. Plans originally called for a three-year, phased-in implementation of the WHTI, with a final deadline for implementation at the end of 2007. The WHTI sought to make international travel more secure by requiring the use of passports or other acceptable travel documents by travelers entering the United States from certain countries in the Western Hemisphere for which such documentation had not been required.

Changing Deadlines

In 2006, the BTA successfully advocated for the Stevens/Leahy amendment, which called for delaying the implementation of WHTI at land and sea ports of entry until June of 2009, or when technological necessities are met. The delay came as a result of concerns that the original deadline would not provide adequate time for sufficient outreach to the public about WHTI requirements, alternative document options for passports, economic studies to understand the economic impact on border communities and the assurance that the Department of State (DOS) would have the ability to issue sufficient passports on time.

The first phase of WHTI was implemented on January 23, 2007, which required passports for air travelers entering the United States from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, Bermuda and Panama. The surge in passport applications led to a backlog of 500,000 passport applications. DHS and DOS responded by temporarily suspending passport requirements for U.S. citizens traveling by air to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda who have applied for but not yet received passports. Air travelers were allowed to leave and return to the U.S. through Sept. 30th with a government-issued photo identification and official proof from the State Department that they have applied for a passport.

The second phase of WHTI was scheduled to begin on January 31, 2008, which would require that citizens of the United States, Canada, Mexico and Bermuda traveling between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda by land or sea (including ferries), present a valid U.S. passport or other WHTI compliant documents to enter or depart the United States. It was later announced during the summer of 2007 that after the January 31, 2008 deadline a passport would not yet be required, but oral declarations of citizenship would no longer suffice, and two documents (proof of citizenship and a government issued photo identification) would be required. Passports would not be required until sometime during the summer of 2008.

PASS Card

The People Access Security System (PASS) was based on stakeholder input that the cost of passports ($97) was not affordable for larger families and was not accommodating for the residents of border communities and frequent border crossers. A less expensive and more portable document was proposed. The wallet-size PASS Card was developed as an alternative travel document to the passport. When the PASS Card is available, the fees will be $20 for adults, $10 for children and there will be a $25 execution fee. DOS has stated that the PASS Cards should be ready for distribution in April of 2008. Other documents will also be accepted under the provisions of WHTI, such as NEXUS, SENTRI, and enhanced drivers’ licenses among others.

Tomorrow, we’ll highlight some of the concerns that have been shared with the BTA and what we are doing to address them.

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