Border Trade Alliance

For millions of U.S. citizens the cross-border travel experience is about to change. As of January 31, 2008, all U.S. citizens must present two forms of government issued identification, including proof of citizenship, upon entry at land and sea ports of entry. The new requirement builds toward full implementation of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), which requires U.S. citizens to obtain a Passport or alternative passport document for cross-border travel.

As part of its continued outreach efforts, the Border Trade Alliance (BTA) is hosting a one-day event on WHTI in Nogales, Arizona today to help inform the traveling public of the pending change as well as to provide an opportunity for citizens to interact with federal officials in charge of the travel initiative.

“The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), the focus of our event here today, represents perhaps the greatest change to the cross-border travel experience to-date,” stated J. Art Macias, Jr., Chairman of the Border Trade Alliance in his opening remarks in Nogales.

The BTA continues to work with both stakeholders and policy makers to achieve a successful implementation of WHTI. Media is continuing to cover the topic of wait-times and WHTI as the impending deadline approaches.

In an recent article on wait-times in the Washington Post, BTA President, Maria Luisa O’Connell, is quoted regarding the border region’s concern with revenue losses:

“Instead of choosing to travel to come shopping and have dinner four times, they’re going to choose to do it only once,” she said. “It’s a huge income concern for cities in the U.S. … What we’re worried about is the perception that people will say, ‘Why bother?’ if it is going to be hard to cross.”

Another article from the Daily Texan, discusses the potential impacts of the the WHTI document verification implementation and addresses much of the uncertainty surrounding the impacts of the deadline:

“ambiguous deadline from the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Department of State,” said Diana Lauritson, policy and project coordinator for the Border Trade Alliance, a grass-roots organization that addresses issues affecting trade and economic development in North America. Lauritson said border residents are confused about what proof of documentation must be shown when crossing the border and when they are required to show it.

Arizona Republic ran a story regarding the fear of increased border delays as the ID checks begin on the implementation date, once again quoting BTA President, Maria Luisa O’Connell:

“I’m very worried,” said Maria Luisa O’Connell, president of the Border Trade Alliance, a Phoenix-based group that pushes for easier transit between the U.S. and its neighbors. “(Customs and Border Patrol agents) are going to have to verify for two forms of ID for everybody who’s in the car, and if someone isn’t going to have it, it’s really going to increase the time but not make us more safe.”

Finally, South Texas Live Reported on CBP’s efforts to provide outreach and listen to border concerns through meetings with the Border Trade Alliance and other border organizations, as well as communicating directly with communities through the conference in Nogales, AZ today. Diana Lauritson is quoted a number of times regarding CBP’s cooperation with the outreach efforts and the mitigation of wait-times:

“CBP did a good job in addressing problems last summer, but are they ready to address another surge?”

“We didn’t leave the meeting with any new ground-breaking information, but we did leave with a better understating of where we all stand on the critical issues affecting our borders, as well as a commitment to work together to overcome these challenges.”Lauritson continues, “BTA is worried about multiple deadlines and hardships for people living on the border… We support WHTI and border security, but we also want economic security.”

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