Initiative
Designed To Expedite Travel in the West While Enhancing Security
The
Departments of State and Homeland Security announced today the Western Hemisphere
Travel Initiative to secure and expedite travel. The Western Hemisphere Travel
Initiative will require all U.S. citizens, Canadians, citizens of the British
Overseas Territory of Bermuda, and citizens of Mexico to have a passport or other
accepted secure document to enter or re-enter the U.S. by January 1, 2008. Currently,
U.S. citizens, and some citizens of other countries in the Western Hemisphere
are not required to present a passport to enter or re-enter the U.S. when traveling
within the Western Hemisphere.
The
Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (IRTPA, also known as
the 9/11 Intelligence Bill), signed into law on December 17, 2004, mandated that
the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of State,
develop and implement a plan to require U.S. citizens and foreign nationals to
present a passport, or other secure document when entering the United States. To
provide vital information to the general public, the Departments of Homeland Security
(DHS) and State (DOS) are issuing an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM)
on the plan to the public and requesting input and/or comment on the suggested
documents and possible alternative documents that can meet the statutory requirements.
A more formal rulemaking will be issued later this year, following review of those
comments, to implement the first phase of the initiative. This rulemaking will
take into account comments received from the advanced notice as well as soliciting
further comments on the rulemaking itself. "Our
goal is to strengthen border security and expedite entry into the United States
for U.S. citizens and legitimate foreign visitors," Homeland Security Acting
Under Secretary for Border and Transportation Security, Randy Beardsworth stated.
"By ensuring that travelers possess secure documents, such as the passport,
Homeland Security will be able to conduct more effective and efficient interviews
at our borders."
"We
recognize the implications this might have for industry, business and the general
public, as well as our neighboring countries, and they are important partners
in this initiative. The advanced notice of proposed rule making will allow these
affected publics to voice concern and provide ideas for alternate documents acceptable
under the law," explained Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs,
Maura Harty. "The overarching need is to implement this legal requirement
in a way that strengthens security while facilitating the movement of persons
and goods." (CONTINUE...)
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