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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

WHTI: Changing the Travel Experience at the U.S. Border - Part 1

Published by Policy.
November 29, 2007 – 4:41 am. Also posted in Advocacy 1 Comment

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 […]

BTA Grassroots Campaign on Border Wait Times

Published by Director of Policy.
September 19, 2007 – 6:11 pm. Also posted in Advocacy, Legislation 7 Comments

The Border Trade Alliance (BTA) wishes to alert you to a situation occurring at our land ports-of-entry that is having a serious, negative economic impact at the border and our nation. Recently Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents began checking and manually entering driver’s license information for a majority of drivers entering the […]

WHTI Success Crucial to Economic Security: BTA Submits Comments to Department of State

Published by Policy.
August 28, 2007 – 11:57 am. Also posted in Advocacy, Border Tech 2 Comments

On Monday August 27, 2007, the Border Trade Alliance (BTA) submitted comments in response to the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for implementation of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) at land and sea ports-of-entry. The BTA has long supported secure travel programs put forward by the federal government. However through its comments […]

Backlog at the border- are we really more secure?

Published by President.
August 23, 2007 – 1:46 pm. Also posted in Advocacy, Press Releases 1 Comment

DHS policy collecting driver’s license information undermining economic security
Phoenix- August 22, 2007- The Border Trade Alliance (BTA), a leading trade organization, wrote a letter of opposition to Secretary of Homeland Security, Michael Chertoff, calling upon the department for the immediate end to the current policy of checking and manually entering driver’s license information, but […]

State of Secure Travel

Published by Policy.
August 17, 2007 – 3:52 pm. 0 Comments

We’ve all watched reports on the nightly news about immigration debates, new passport requirements, long wait times through airport security, and construction of a border fence… Since 9/11, we’ve understandingly been extra vigilant on issues relating to homeland security efforts. But have we really made progress with all the new initiatives we hear about… […]

Increased Inspections at the Ports of Entry: 60% check of identification

Published by President.
August 10, 2007 – 4:32 pm. 0 Comments

BTA is very concerned about a new policy being implemented at all ports of entry. Last week, CBP officers began checking the drivers licenses for 60 percent of drivers that cross the border into the U.S. from Canada and Mexico. The driver’s license numbers are then manually entered into a computer system, causing […]

BTA Testifies at U.S. House Committee Hearing on Balancing Security and Commerce

Published by President.
July 30, 2007 – 8:02 pm. Also posted in Legislation 0 Comments

On July 26th, 2007. 2:00PM EDT (WASHINGTON, D.C.) Maria Luisa O’Connell, President of the Border Trade Alliance (BTA), testified today before the U.S. House Homeland Security Committee Subcommittee on Border, Maritime and Global Counterterrorism at a hearing entitled, “Frequent Traveler Programs: Balancing Security and Commerce at our Land Borders.”
A written transcript and recorded video […]

Outside the Box - At Least Outside the Security Line…

Published by Director of Policy.
June 29, 2007 – 9:47 pm. Also posted in Border Tech 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. Also posted in Border News 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. Also posted in Infrastructure, Legislation 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 […]

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