Costly non-solution for Canada-U.S. travelers
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security proposed "low cost" People Access Security Service "mini-passport" is an expensive non-solution which will further inhibit routine pleasure travel by Americans and Canadians visiting each others' countries on short visits.
Today's Seattle Post-Intelligencer editorial correctly criticizes this lousy proposal. WIVB-TV Buffalo has another thorough critique of the proposed PASS card.
From my perspective, my criticisms of the proposal are as follows:
1. The PASS "mini-passport" will cost $50 U.S., and presumably need to be renewed every two or three years.
2. Canadian and Mexican visitors will STILL BE REQUIRED to provide passports or other "secure proof of citizenship ID"; it's unclear whether PASS cards will be issued to Canadians or Mexicans.
3. It's unclear whether Dual Citizens, i.e. those holding both Canadian and U.S. citizenship, will be treated under this program.
4. The PASS and/or Passport requirement totally ruins the idea of unplanned brief "day trips" by American visitors from non-border communities. Examples: visitors from Kentucky to the U.S. side of Niagara Falls who want to quickly visit the Canadian side of Niagara Falls; visitors from Louisiana to relatives in Seattle who'd like to take the one-day ferry trip to Victoria; visitors from Utah coming to San Diego for a convention who want to briefly walk over to Tijuana.
5. Homeland Security has failed to indicate why they have to charge Fifty Dollars for this "pocket sized" card, which could discourage many families with children (particularly if they don't live near the border) from making casual visits to either Canada or Mexico.
6. Homeland Security's explanation that this "is not a national ID card" is rather dubious, given the widespread (and technically illegal) use of Social Security cards for non-Social Security purposes.
7. What are Homeland Security's plans for enforcing this program at the Mexican border, including the vast stretches of under-patrolled border between the official U.S. ports of entry?
Why, oh why can't Uncle Sam work out arrangements with the 50 states to upgrade state-issued identification/drivers' licenses so those forms of ID are secure, fraud-resistent, and so those ID forms include verification of the citizenship/residency status of the bearer?
I also am concerned the Government of Canada could pursue its own retaliatory measures against the U.S. Government if this oppressive measure is imposed at the shared land border ports of entry.
Today's Seattle Post-Intelligencer editorial correctly criticizes this lousy proposal. WIVB-TV Buffalo has another thorough critique of the proposed PASS card.
From my perspective, my criticisms of the proposal are as follows:
1. The PASS "mini-passport" will cost $50 U.S., and presumably need to be renewed every two or three years.
2. Canadian and Mexican visitors will STILL BE REQUIRED to provide passports or other "secure proof of citizenship ID"; it's unclear whether PASS cards will be issued to Canadians or Mexicans.
3. It's unclear whether Dual Citizens, i.e. those holding both Canadian and U.S. citizenship, will be treated under this program.
4. The PASS and/or Passport requirement totally ruins the idea of unplanned brief "day trips" by American visitors from non-border communities. Examples: visitors from Kentucky to the U.S. side of Niagara Falls who want to quickly visit the Canadian side of Niagara Falls; visitors from Louisiana to relatives in Seattle who'd like to take the one-day ferry trip to Victoria; visitors from Utah coming to San Diego for a convention who want to briefly walk over to Tijuana.
5. Homeland Security has failed to indicate why they have to charge Fifty Dollars for this "pocket sized" card, which could discourage many families with children (particularly if they don't live near the border) from making casual visits to either Canada or Mexico.
6. Homeland Security's explanation that this "is not a national ID card" is rather dubious, given the widespread (and technically illegal) use of Social Security cards for non-Social Security purposes.
7. What are Homeland Security's plans for enforcing this program at the Mexican border, including the vast stretches of under-patrolled border between the official U.S. ports of entry?
Why, oh why can't Uncle Sam work out arrangements with the 50 states to upgrade state-issued identification/drivers' licenses so those forms of ID are secure, fraud-resistent, and so those ID forms include verification of the citizenship/residency status of the bearer?
I also am concerned the Government of Canada could pursue its own retaliatory measures against the U.S. Government if this oppressive measure is imposed at the shared land border ports of entry.
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