WASHINGTON,
D.C. - The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has
announced its intent to propose, as part of
the forthcoming Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on the
Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI),
significant flexibility regarding travel documents
required for U.S. and Canadian children as part of
WHTI requirements for U.S. land and sea border entry
in 2008.
As
early as January 1, 2008, U.S. citizens traveling
between the United States and Canada, Mexico,
Central and South America, the Caribbean, and
Bermuda by land or sea will be required to present a
valid passport or other WHTI compliant documents, as
determined by the Department of Homeland Security.
This
proposal, which will be subject to public comment as
part of the rulemaking process on the WHTI, would
allow U.S. and Canadian citizens, ages 15 and
younger with parental consent, to cross the border
at land and sea ports with a certified copy of their
birth certificate as an alternative to a passport or
other WHTI compliant identity card. U.S. and
Canadian citizen children, ages 16 through 18,
traveling with public or private school groups,
religious groups, social or cultural organizations
or teams associated with youth athletics
organizations would also be able to enter, under
adult supervision, with a certified copy of their
birth certificate.
The
initial phase of WHTI travel document requirements
went into effect last month, obligating all air
travelers, regardless of age, to present a passport
for entry to the United States. The DHS proposal
announced today does not affect the requirements for
air travel.
The
Department of State will soon issue final
regulations that will allow it to issue to U.S.
citizens a lower cost alternative to a passport, the
Passport Card. DHS will continue to issue WHTI
compliant border crossing documents for frequent
border crossers under its trusted traveler programs.
The
Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of
2004 mandated the WHTI travel document requirements.
A formal proposed rule addressing land and sea
travel will be published at a later date, with
additional details on requirements for travelers
entering the United States through land and sea
border crossings.
