Plan to require travel documents at border crossings could be delayed

Plan to require travel documents at border crossings could be delayed
By Jill R. Aitoro jaitoro@govexec.com January 23, 2008

The Homeland Security Department has made progress rolling out its program for monitoring border crossings, but deploying and testing the technology will pose significant challenges that could cause delays, according to a report from the Government Accountability Office released on Jan. 22.

DHS, consulting with the State Department, has developed the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, which specifies the kinds of documents and the requirements that can be used for identification. The initiative was the result of the 2004 Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act, which was passed in response to the Sept. 11 attacks. It requires travelers to present a passport or other approved document verifying their identity when crossing into the United States from countries in North, Central or South America.

DHS must deploy the initiative at land and sea ports of entry by June 1, 2009. Starting Jan. 31, anyone entering the United States from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and the Caribbean region must present a U.S. passport or valid travel documents, such as a radio frequency identification passport card currently being developed, or a driver's license and proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate.

According to the report (GAO-08-274R), which was provided to the House Committee on Homeland Security on Dec. 20, 2007, DHS requested $252 million to implement the WHTI in fiscal 2008. Of that total, DHS will use $166 million for technology upgrades and deployment at 13 of the busiest U.S. land ports of entry.

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