Homeland Security Proposal Relaxes US Passport Requirements
The US Government could relax the requirements currently in place for travellers between the US and Mexico, Canada, Bermuda and the Caribbean, meaning that, for a limited period, passports would not be required. Since January, travel to and from these places has been governed by the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, part of a wider set of restrictions introduced as a result of the Terrorist Attacks on September 11th 2001.
The Proposal was signed off yesterday by Homeland Security, following discussions with the White House, the State Department and members of Congress: officials and lawmakers with key information relating to this are expecting a full announcement to take place today.
This suspension of the current law would please the scores of angry travellers who have had their holiday plans extinguished by delays in passport processing.
At present, the State Department is trying to cope with a huge rise in the number of passport applications compared to more usual levels; the influx having started when the passport rule began earlier in 2007. Indeed, between March and May, over 4.5 million passports were issued by the department. Consular Affairs Officials are adamant that millions more remain unissued.
The result for many Americans has been delays of up to three months-effectively denying them the holidays they planned.
While, then, a passport is not required between the nations stated, travellers will be expected to provide proof of their application, in the form of a State Department Receipt, as well as further identification such as their driver's license. As per an official involved in the measures, they would also be subject to extra security checks, potentially including additional questioning and/or luggage checks.
According to Heather Wilson, Republican Representative, the suspension will be in place until the end of September. Wilson, who has been lobbying for this kind of move for weeks, commented on the build-up to the temporary suspension. She stated: "To say people must have a passport to travel and not give people a passport is right up there in the stupid column."
Source - Security International's US Correspondent
