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Report details challenges of new border security requirements

National Journal's Technology Daily May 30, 2007

A new report from the U.S. and Canadian governments outlines issues and challenges associated with implementing new border security requirements under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, but it concludes that those requirements still should go into effect.

The 28-page report, released Wednesday by the Foundation for Educational Exchange between Canada and the United States, summarizes most of the key issues surrounding WHTI, which will require travelers entering the United States from any part of the Western Hemisphere to have secure, government-approved identification documents by no later than June 2009.

The report makes general policy recommendations in the areas of coordination between governments, technology, privacy, trade and tourism.

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"While it is vitally important to consider ways to reduce potential economic consequences that might be associated with the WHTI, policy makers should take caution not to lose sight of why this initiative was originally introduced by the United States," the report concluded.

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  • The king has no clothes when it comes to plans that side step passports and status documents on the border. NAFTA worked against day trips to Canada for the same reason China wants to artificially keep the US Dollar up, there used to be upwards of a thirty per cent exchange making the trip to Canada economical. The only difference between that US industrial widget being shipped in from some offshore company and some agricultural product being shipped in from some offshore farm or ranch is that companies like ADM are not trying to blame it on the cost of labor. What made Henry Ford great was not the the fact that he had assembly lines, springfield arms had standardized parts long before old Henry. What made Henry was old Henrys willingness to share profits so employees would be able to buy cars! So all the executives who grew up thinking that we were going to have a service driven (Mega Trends) society should understand that in this information age even the service is being moved offshore. If you feel comtfortable you shouldn't because better then two of every three workers are either Chineese or Indian and the Henry Fords of the future are in western schools learning how to be Henry Fords so the retirement wealth of all those who were not the best and the brightest ends up in thier childrens futures. Wayne E Burke Posted July 1, 2007 3:24 AM
  • Putting these new border security requirements into effect will prove economically detrimental to not only my hometown of Niagara Falls (which is highly contingent upon tourism and retail) but to many cities and towns across both the US and Canadian border. Such restrictions will far outweigh the benefits to homeland Security - if a passport would stop terrorists I would be the first to rally in support of Homeland Security's new mandates BUT I fail to see where a passport will hinder or deter terrorists - and the economic outcomes for many towns along the border (both US and Canadian) will suffer tremendously. I am firstmost a proud American with 35+ years with the DOD and one who feels privileged to reside and work for this great country but I am also proud of my Canadian heritage (I am also a Canadian property owner with many Canadian friends and relatives throughout Ontario) and as such feel this implementation for border security is both WRONG AND UNJUST. There needs to be separate mandates for those living in and along the border - and as all can agree there is a big difference between our northern and southern borders!! Linda J. Miller Posted May 31, 2007 9:29 AM
  • Where can I find the report? GovExec Fan Posted May 31, 2007 7:08 AM
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