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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.

Jan 11

WHTI: State Dept. Releases Final Rule on PASS Card

Published by Director of Policy.
in Advocacy, Border News, Travel & Immigration. 3 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, 2009 the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) will be implemented, requiring U.S. Passports or other acceptable documents (PASS Card, Enhanced Drivers License (EDL), NEXUS, and SENTRI cards) will be required for citizens to return to the United States from Canada and Mexico at land and sea ports of entry.

The BTA has long advocated for the development of the PASS Card prior to full implementation of WHTI and continues to support the efforts of states that have chosen to pursue the EDL concept. The BTA continues to share recommendations with policymakers to ease the transition toward the final requirements of WHTI.

On January 31, 2008 the current practice of simply providing an oral declaration of citizenship will end. U.S. citizens without a Passport will be required to present two forms of government identification (drivers license, NEXUS card) including proof of citizenship (birth certificate). However, according to the recently published final rule, citizens will not be able to begin applying for the PASS Card until February 1, 2008, leaving travelers without a U.S. Passport no other option than to carry their birth certificate and another acceptable form of identification when crossing the border until their PASS Card application is accepted and the alternative document issued.

The following is a summary of the final rule for the PASS Card:

Published in Federal Register on December 31, 2007

• Citizens may apply for the PASS Card on February 1, 2008.

• PASS Card does not have to be signed to be valid.

• Utilizes RFID vicinity technology to read a unique Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued number that is referenced only within CBP’s secure computer system.

• Fees:

Application fee
Adult (16 yr and older)….$20
Minor (under age 16)………10

Execution fee…………………25
(first time applicants only)

• Total cost:

First time adult………….45
First time minor………..35
Renewal – adult…………20
Renewal – minor……….10

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Jan 10

REAL ID - What is it?

Published by Policy.
in Advocacy, Legislation, Travel & Immigration. 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 intended to prevent terrorism, reduce fraud, and improve the reliability and accuracy of identification documents that State governments issue.”

Title II of REAL ID called, “Improved Security for Driver’s Licenses and Personal Identification Cards,” addresses new standards for driver’s licenses and how they can be obtained, citing that drivers licenses will be subject to federal minimum standards for issuance and use. Up until the passage of REAL ID, the states had been solely in charge of issuing drivers licenses and identification cards, as well as setting the requirements for what is contained on the document, requirements to obtain the document, and how the databases for document holders are maintained. Title II contains the following provisions: Repeal of 9/11 Commission Implementation Act DL/ID Provisions, Minimum Standards for Federal Use, DL/ID Document Standards, Minimum DL/ID Issuance Standards, Verification of Documents, Immigration Requirements, Security and Fraud Prevention Standards, Data Retention and Storage, Linking of Databases, Grants to States and Authority. A description of each provision can be found at: http://www.ncsl.org/standcomm/sctran/realidsummary05.htm.

Requirements

At a minimum, the card must contain a person’s full legal name, date of birth, gender, driver’s license or ID number, digital photograph, address of legal residence, signature, physical security features designed to prevent tampering, counterfeiting or duplication, and a common machine-readable technology with defined data elements. REAL ID is scheduled to go into effect on December 31, 2009. Non-compliance with the provisions of REAL ID will affect your ability to enter federal buildings, board a plane, get a job and open a bank account. Additionally, states are required to link their motor vehicle databases to all other states. A state database must contain at a minimum all of the information on the driver’s license or identification card, as well as drivers’ histories. Any state that does not comply with the linking database requirements will lose its federal funding.

Implications

Although the REAL ID Act of 2005 was passed overwhelmingly in the House, and unanimously in the Senate, there is real controversy surrounding this legislation. Opponents say that enacting the REAL ID ACT is tantamount to a National ID system that is “invasive, un-American, costly and an invitation to identity theft.” Furthermore, opponents of REAL ID claim that it is a violation of state sovereignty, as well as an unfunded mandate that puts an unfair burden on states to come up with the money to implement REAL ID. DHS estimates that REAL ID will cost over $23 billion dollars to implement, and Congress has only appropriated $40 million dollars to help states meet the requirements of REAL ID. In December 0f 2007, DHS issued a press release explaining how the $40 million dollars will be allocated to assist the states in complying with the requirements of REAL ID. Two grant programs were announced. The REAL ID Demonstration Grant Program provides $31.3 million that will go towards helping states link motor vehicle databases with other states and verify against federal records, while protecting personal information. The REAL ID Vital Events Verification State Project Grant will provide $4 million to help states verify birth certificates and other vital records. The remaining $4 million will be used to expand the pilot program by allowing states to acquire technology that will verify identification documents.

Sixteen states and Washington, D.C. have already passed legislation opposing REAL ID, and twenty-one states have legislation pending that opposes REAL ID, or at least some of the provisions of REAL ID. However, some states have taken steps to comply with REAL ID. Recently, Arizona, which has legislation pending that opposes REAL ID, signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with DHS to move forward with an enhanced driver’s license (EDL) that will not only serve as a driver’s license, but will also verify citizenship for land and sea border crossing purposes under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), and will have the capability to be aligned to comply with REAL ID requirements in the future.
California, Alabama, North Dakota and North Carolina, among others, have also taken measures to comply with REAL ID.

The Border Trade Alliance (BTA) will continue to monitor the implementation of the REAL ID Act to help ensure that it does not adversely impact border communities, trade and travel. The BTA will also continue to support state led initiatives such as EDL pilot programs that collaborate with DHS to assist the public in complying with federal legislation and initiatives such as the REAL ID ACT and WHTI.

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Jan 05

The Importance of Trade: NAFTA Bolsters U.S. Economy

Published by Director of Policy.
in Advocacy, Import & Export. 1 Comment

The second day of 2008 marked the end of the remaining tariffs on agricultural products traded between the United States and Mexico, achieving a remaining objective of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Tri-lateral trade between NAFTA members, the United States, Canada and Mexico has increased dramatically since the 1994 inception of the landmark trade liberalization accord.

Despite the success that the North American trade bloc has achieved, U.S. political candidates vying for votes in the contentious presidential primaries have shown lackluster support for NAFTA. Several candidates have remarked that if elected they would revisit the terms of the agreement. While perhaps a popular sentiment politically or at least a deft political strategy of deflecting attention from pressing domestic issues the numbers supporting the importance of trade for the U.S. economy speak for themselves.

In an economic environment where the price of oil hovers at $100 a barrel, a weak U.S. dollar, revived fears of a recession, the U.S. economy has remained on-track with the strong backing of U.S. products exported globally. U.S. exports to our top two markets, Canada and Mexico has surged the last six years – a time of turbulent conditions for the rest of the U.S. economy, increasing by $100 billion from 2001 to 2006. Access to foreign markets is critical to sustaining the bright spot of the U.S. economy, trade. Tampering with this successful trade agreement may yield short-term political gain but only at the expense of our economy.

The Facts:

• U.S. Exports to Canada and Mexico 2001 – 2006

Year 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
Total Exports (billion USD) $265.2 $258.3 $266.9 $299.9 $331.5 $364.4

Source: TradeStats Express™ - National Trade Data U.S. Department of Commerce

• According the U.S. Department of State, in 2006 the United States was the second largest exporter globally (behind Germany), exporting $1 trillion in goods. The U.S. remains the largest exporter of services with $422 billion in 2006.

• U.S. exports to NAFTA partner alone accounted for 35 percent of total U.S. exports in 2006.
Source: United States Trade Representative

• Canada remains the largest destination for U.S. exports, receiving $206.6 billion of U.S. goods through October of 2007.

• Mexico remains the second largest market for U.S. products with over $114 billion in products crossing in from the United States through October 2007.

• Trade using surface transportation between the United States and its North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) partners was 5.5 percent higher in September 2007 than in September 2006, reaching $66.8 billion, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).

The Border Trade Alliance (BTA), a leading trade organization, represents U.S. border communities and advocates for policies to facilitate international trade and commerce within North America.

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Jan 05

House Committee Holds Hearing on Wait-times

Published by Director of Policy.
in Import & Export, Border News. 1 Comment

On Thursday 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.” GSA Administrator Lurita Doan, CBP Assistant Commissioner Thomas S. Winkowski and Richard Stana Director, Homeland Security and Justice at the Government Accountability Office were among those providing testimony. The primary focus of the field hearing was to address the concerns of growing wait-times at our nation’s ports of entry.

Below are highlights from yesterday’s field hearing, for full copies of witness testimony please click here.

“It is my hope, however, that today’s hearing will help us continue to work together to better secure our nation’s ports of entry, and improve the lives of those who call border communities home.”
- House Homeland Security Chairman Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS)

“As you well know, there is an urgent need in the nation to rethink the way we plan, design and build our ports of entry. We need new energy and new ideas. Over the past 15 years or so, our trade across the borders has dramatically increased while the capacity of our land ports of entry to handle this new traffic has not kept pace. To solve this problem, we are going to have to think differently.”
- GSA Administrator Lurita Doan

“CBP’s frontline officers and agents will continue to protect America from the terrorist threat while also accomplishing our traditional missions in immigration, customs, and agriculture, all while balancing our enforcement missions with the need to effectively facilitate the flow of legitimate trade and travel.”
- CBP Assistant Commissioner Thomas S. Winkowski

Last year the Border Trade Alliance launched a successful grassroots campaign to educate Congress, the media and businesses and residents of border communities about the increased delays at our ports of entry. The issue of wait-times remains a major policy priority for the BTA and we are continuing our efforts to share information and recommendations with policy-makers in Washington, D.C. to address this critical issue in U.S. border communities.

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Dec 27

BTA Welcomes Legislation to Study Wait-times - Urges Swift Passage

Published by Director of Policy.
in Advocacy, Legislation. 3 Comments

The Border Trade Alliance (BTA), a leading trade organization, issued its strong support for legislation introduced earlier in December by Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) and Congressman Ciro D. Rodriguez (D-TX) to study the impact of growing wait-times at land border crossings along the U.S. border with Canada and Mexico.

In late August, the BTA wrote a letter to Secretary of Homeland Security, Michael Chertoff, to raise the concern of increased delays at land ports of entry. The BTA also brought forth similar concerns and provided recommendations to address the issue of wait-times through its service on the Departments of Homeland Security and State’s Secure Borders Open Doors Advisory Committee (SBODAC).

“The Border Trade Alliance (BTA) appreciates the strong leadership of Senator Hutchison and Congressman Rodriguez on border issues,” said J. Art Macias, Chairman of the Border Trade Alliance. “This legislation provides the ability to quantify wait times at our land ports of entry, which will allow policy-makers to best identify solutions to address the growing concern over wait times and ensure for both our economic and physical security.”

Last year, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, over 6.6 million trucks and over 30 million personal vehicles crossed the U.S.-Canada border while more than 4.7 million trucks and over 88 million personal vehicles crossed the U.S.-Mexico border.

“There are a number of contributing factors to increased wait-times at our border crossings,” said Maria Luisa O’Connell, President of the Border Trade Alliance. “Providing policy-makers and the public with hard data will help identify the root causes of these delays as well as the appropriate federal response. We urge lawmakers to move swiftly to adopt the bills introduced today by Senator Hutchison and Congressman Rodriguez.”

As part of its continued advocacy and outreach efforts on wait-times, the BTA is committed to continue working with the Department of Transportation, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and other federal agencies to ensure they receive the necessary resources to secure our ports of entry and facilitate legitimate trade and travel.

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Dec 19

WHTI: Passport Requirement Delayed

Published by Director of Policy.
in Advocacy, Border News, Travel & Immigration. 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 sea ports of entry without having to show a U.S. Passport until the summer of 2009. The provision delaying the implementation until June 1, 2009 was inserted into the end-of-the year spending measure by Congresswoman Louise Slaughter (D-NY), which passed both the House and Senate with the support of many border state Senators and Representatives.

Despite the passage of the delay, the border crossing experience for citizens without Passports will soon change. As of January 31, 2008, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will end the acceptance of oral declarations of citizenship and require two forms of government identification, including proof of citizenship, for re-entry into the United States.

The Border Trade Alliance (BTA) has long supported secure travel programs put forward by the federal government and has worked with DHS and the Department of State (DOS) to increase public knowledge of WHTI. However, the BTA supports delaying implementation at land ports of entry contingent upon the federal government’s ability to implement the security program effectively and efficiently.

While the delay will buy time for the federal government and traveling public alike to be prepared for the change, the delay itself does not speak to many of the remaining issues yet to be addressed, such as the issuance of a low-cost passport alternative or PASS Card, increased outreach toward the traveling public about the requirements of WHTI, and the dedication of additional resources by Congress to DHS and the Department of State (DOS) prior to implementation of the new travel requirement at land and sea ports of entry.

The BTA remains committed to working with stakeholders, including border communities and the federal government, to help make WHTI a success in terms of security and facilitation of legitimate cross-border travel. On December 11, 2007, the BTA held a one-day forum on the secure travel initiative in Nogales, Arizona to provide border citizens the opportunity to learn more about WHTI and also to interact with federal officials in charge of the program.

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Dec 18

The Importance of Trade: Impact on Border Communities

Published by Director of Policy.
in Import & Export, Border News. 0 Comments

The economic importance of trade is no more apparent than in U.S. border communities. The Border Trade Alliance (BTA) as an organization that represents border communities and trade has witnessed how cities along both the U.S.-Canada and U.S.-Mexico borders are integrally linked economically with their counterparts north and south and through them, the rest of the global economy. The reliance upon cross-border trade has grown along with the volume of trade with Canada and Mexico.

Canada remains the largest destination for U.S. exports, receiving $206.6 billion of U.S. goods through October of this year alone. Mexico remains the second largest market for U.S. products with over $114 billion in products crossing in from the United States through October 2007. In fact, trade using surface transportation between the United States and its North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) partners was 5.5 percent higher in September 2007 than in September 2006, reaching $66.8 billion, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).

A recent op-ed written by U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), highlights the impact of trade in Texas and to the United States. An excerpt of the article follows:

Exchange of goods is good
By KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON
Special to the Star-Telegram
Mon. December 10, 2007

Pioneering free-market economist Adam Smith once said, “The answer to the question of free trade is easy once it is seen that the only reason that has ever been offered for protective tariffs or a closed market is, indeed, protection.”

In just over a decade, major developments in U.S. trade policy have allowed Texas to wield trade not only as an instrument of freedom but one of productivity and prosperity for the benefit of our citizens.

Read the full article here.

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Dec 14

WHTI: Get Informed

Published by Director of Policy.
in Advocacy, Travel & Immigration. 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 requirement as of January 31, 2008.

The pending changes as a result of WHTI bring questions, concerns and often, confusion. Throw in the mix the development of new identification documents such as the lower-cost passport alternative or PASS Card and the creation of enhanced driver’s licenses and it is no wonder why citizens who cross our borders on a regular basis or people who are contemplating a visit to Canada or Mexico are confused.

Recent media coverage has focused on the ultimate change, the requirement for U.S. citizens to present a U.S. Passport when traveling back into the United States from Canada or Mexico at land border crossings. While this certainly will become the case once a deadline is established by the Departments of State (DOS) and Homeland Security (DHS), until that date is announced U.S. citizens are not currently required to present a passport when traveling back into the U.S. by land or sea.
Read More →

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Dec 13

GSA Administrator Presses for More Infrastructure at the Border

Published by Director of Policy.
in Advocacy, Infrastructure, Border Tech. 0 Comments

On Monday December 10, 2007, at the 2008 Homeland Security Outlook Conference in Washington, D.C. Lurita Doan, head of the General Services Administration outlined a strategy for her agency to move swiftly to improve infrastructure at our nation’s ports of entry (POE).

Administrator Doan communicated recent efforts by GSA to move forward in addressing issues impacted by overburden infrastructure and facilities at POEs along both the U.S.-Canada and U.S.-Mexico border. Specifically, Administrator Doan identified the growing concern of increased wait-times experienced at our border crossings.

“The Border Trade Alliance (BTA) appreciates Administrator Doan’s leadership and commitment to dedicate federal resources and improve infrastructure at our nation’s ports of entry,” said Maria Luisa O’Connell, President of the BTA, “What is good for our ports of entry is good for the health of our national economy.” Read More →

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Dec 11

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

Published by Director of Policy.
in Advocacy, Travel & Immigration, 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 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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