Canadians should show passport to enter US

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 16:56:18 GMT

http://www.presstv.com/detail.aspx?i...onid=351020701


A new border rule requires Americans and Canadians to present their passport or other secure documents if they want to cross the border and enter the United States.

In what has been described as a lenient approach to enforcement, the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative taken effect on Monday is intended to secure US borders.

"We're not denying any Canadians entry into the United States," said US Customs and Border Protection spokesman Mike Milne. "We are informing or reminding them of the new requirements."

So far the only document the travelers needed to enter the US was a driving license. But under WHTI all travelers, including American citizens who want to reenter the country, should present their passports or federal identification cards to cross the US borders on the north or south.

Despite taking effect the new border rule has not been too strict so far, and nobody knows when guards will begin turning away Canadians trying to enter with just a driver's license.

"We really don't have a set date on that yet," Milne said.

Critics of the new law maintain that WHTI could potentially put at risk regional commerce.

"I guarantee you there's someone in Kansas or someone in Ottawa who's never even heard what WHTI is, who is used to going on their summer vacation with their driver's license," Roger Dow, president of the US Travel Association said.

The new rules, US officials said, are aimed at securing borders.

The US has recently started flying drones on its long border with Canada to uncover problems with drugs, border crossings or terrorism.