WASHINGTON -- The
Dept. of Homeland Security said it will move forward with a plan to
initiate the land and seaport phase of the Western Hemisphere
Travel Initiative early next year.
The DHS said that
starting Jan. 31, travelers will be required to present proof of
citizenship when crossing U.S. land borders and sea ports of
entry.
"This change is a
necessary step to prepare travelers and ease the transition to the
future requirements of the WHTI," according to a DHS
statement."
Starting on Jan.
31, the DHS said travelers crossing U.S. borders will be required
to provide appropriate forms of ID, such as a government-issued
photo ID (a driver's license, for example), along with proof of
citizenship (a birth certificate or naturalization certificate, for
example) for U.S. and Canadian citizens ages 19 and older. For
children ages 18 and under, proof of citizenship, such as a birth
certificate, must be provided.
In addition,
passports and trusted traveler program cards --such as NEXUS,
SENTRI and FAST -- will continue to be accepted for cross-border
travel.
Next summer, on a
date not yet announced, travelers crossing U.S. land borders and
seaports will be required to present valid passports or other
WHTI-compliant documents.
"During this
transition, the DHS and the Dept. of State are working diligently
to minimize the impact on legitimate trade and travel," the DHS
said.
Under the WHTI, a
law that went into effect last January, airline passengers entering
the U.S. are required to present a valid passport.
The law was
spurred by the 9/11 Commission, a group convened to both
investigate the 9/11 terrorist attacks and make recommendations for
enhancing border security.
Congress later
included many of the recommendations in its Intelligence Reform and
Terrorism Prevention Act, a law passed in 2004 that led to the
development of the WHTI.
To contact reporter Michael Milligan, send e-mail to [email protected].