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Home Front: Politix
Slimes: Tighter Border Delays Re-entry by U.S. Citizens
2007-10-21
EL PASO — United States border agents have stepped up scrutiny of Americans returning home from Mexico, slowing commerce and creating delays at border crossings not seen since the months after the Sept. 11 attacks.

The increased enforcement is in part a dress rehearsal for new rules, scheduled to take effect in January, that will require Americans to show a passport or other proof of citizenship to enter the United States. The requirements were approved by Congress as part of antiterrorism legislation in 2004.

Border officials said agents along the southern border were asking more returning United States citizens to show a photo identity document. At the same time, agents are increasing the frequency of what they call queries, where they check a travelerÂ’s information against law enforcement, immigration and antiterror databases.
Posted by:gorb

#2  It is very ironic that they are insisting on passports that take months to get, which is an awful way to gain entry instead of biometrics.

The passport has zero advantages over biometrics, because it is still valid even if your RFID chip doesn't work. But if your RFID *does* work, it can be easily copied from a distance with a scanner and put in a fake passport.

It is circular inefficiency.

And typically, well over 2M Americans visit Mexico and return every year. Which is more than doubled by Mexicans who visit the US and return every year, some of each several times a day.

Creating a terrible logjam should never be confused with improved security. More likely it is indicative of a completely screwed up system.
Posted by: Anonymoose   2007-10-21 22:21  

#1  I always remember having to carry a birth certificate and a driver's license to cross the border. Apparently, that's still enough to make the crossing according to the article. They're just asking a few more people some questions. Big freakin' deal.

Get there earlier, bring a snack, and deal with it, guys. It's not like they are doing body cavity searches.
Posted by: Swamp Blondie   2007-10-21 14:31  

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