From the Niagara Falls Review:
It’s official. Travellers entering the United States by land, sea and air will require a passport “or other secure document” as identification iorder to be permitted into the Land of the Free.
“We are on course to implement and enforce the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative which is an important step forward in securing the homeland,” said Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. “Limiting and standardizing the types of documents presented will result in a more secure and efficient border. We will continue to encourage cross-border travel and trade while at the same time decreasing identity theft and fraud.”
That’s good news to Arlene White, executive director of the Binational Tourism Alliance.
“This is good,” she said, moments after the Department of Homeland Security sent out the media release announcing the date travellers from Canada, the United States, Mexico and some parts of the Caribbean – countries that traditionally gave oral declarations or a birth certificate or drivers licence when entering the country – will need to enter the U.S.