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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.

Category Archives: Travel & Immigration

Travel & Immigration - Border Blog

BTA Podcast: Mayor Cortez, City of McAllen, TX - Border Fence, Immigration Reform, and Infrastructure

Published by Accounting.
March 20, 2008 – 8:30 pm. Also posted in Advocacy, Infrastructure, Legislation, Import & Export 0 Comments
 
icon for podpress  BTA Podcast 001: Mayor Cortez, City of McAllen, TX: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

In our new podcast series, President of the Border Trade Alliance, Maria Luisa O’Connell, interviews The Honorable Richard Cortez, Mayor, City of McAllen, TX.  In this exclusive interview Mayor Cortez provides a powerful perspective on the economic impacts facing the border region and our nation at large if progress is not made to resolve […]

BTA Policy Update: DHS Announces Support for Hidalgo County, Texas Proposal on Border Fence

Published by Director of Policy.
February 8, 2008 – 9:55 pm. Also posted in Advocacy, Border News 0 Comments

Today, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff announced support for a proposal to enhance the existing levee structure along 22 miles of the Rio Grande River in Hidalgo County, Texas. The construction of a concrete retaining wall along land owned by the International Boundary and Water Commission will address flood control and […]

House Committee Holds Hearing on Wait-times

Published by Policy.
January 22, 2008 – 6:48 pm. Also posted in Advocacy, Legislation 0 Comments

On Thursday January 3rd, the House Homeland Security Committee held a field hearing in El Paso, Texas entitled, “Ensuring Homeland Security While Facilitating Legitimate Travel: The Challenge at America’s Ports of Entry.” In this meeting, members of the Department of Homeland Security, General Services Administration, Government Accountability Office and numerous private enterprises gathered […]

WHTI: State Dept. Releases Final Rule on PASS Card

Published by Director of Policy.
January 11, 2008 – 11:13 pm. Also posted in Advocacy, Border News 2 Comments

On December 31, 2007 the U.S. Department of State published a final rule in the Federal Register on the development of the PASS Card. The wallet-sized, low cost alternative to a U.S. Passport is designed to facilitate efficient and secure cross-border travel at land and sea ports of entry. On June 1, […]

REAL ID - What is it?

Published by Policy.
January 10, 2008 – 8:43 pm. Also posted in Advocacy, Legislation 2 Comments

REAL ID
What Is It?
The REAL ID Act of 2005 was signed into law on May 11, 2005 as an attachment to the “Emergency Supplemental Appropriation for Defense, the Global War on Terror, and Tsunami Relief, 2005.” According to the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) website, the REAL ID Act is “a nationwide effort […]

WHTI: Passport Requirement Delayed

Published by Director of Policy.
December 19, 2007 – 11:00 pm. Also posted in Advocacy, Border News 3 Comments

Border communities in the United States, both north and south, are breathing a sigh of relief. Congress has moved the implementation date for the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) until June 1, 2009 at the earliest. This change means that U.S. citizens will be able to cross our borders at land and […]

WHTI: Get Informed

Published by Director of Policy.
December 14, 2007 – 3:29 pm. Also posted in Advocacy 0 Comments

On Tuesday (December 11, 2007) the Border Trade Alliance (BTA) held a Regional Event in Nogales, Arizona on the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), the forthcoming secure traveler program for cross-border travel. The one-day event highlighted upcoming changes for travel to Canada and Mexico for U.S. citizens, including the new proof of citizenship […]

WHTI Event in Nogales - BTA Advocacy and Outreach in the Media

Published by Director of Policy.
December 11, 2007 – 7:28 am. Also posted in Advocacy, BTA in the News 1 Comment

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 […]

DHS Informs Public of New Document Requirements for Cross-Border Travel

Published by Director of Policy.
December 4, 2007 – 5:04 pm. 2 Comments

Today the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a press release with preliminary information regarding the pending new document requirement for travel at land ports of entry. The new document requirements will be implemented on January 31, 2008 and will replace the previous acceptable practice of oral declarations of citizenship when re-entering the […]

WHTI: Changing the Travel Experience at the U.S. Border - Part 2

Published by Policy.
November 30, 2007 – 1:00 am. Also posted in Advocacy 2 Comments

Yesterday, we shared background information on the forthcoming largest change in cross-border travel to-date. Today we will focus on some of the concerns that have arisen in anticipation of WHTI being implemented at land ports-of-entry. The BTA has supported WHTI as a means to improve security and the efficiency of cross-border travel. […]

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