http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newyork/ny-bc-ny--border-passports1018oct18%2C0%2C326753%2Cprint.story
Homeland Security chief pledges better alternative to passports By DEVLIN BARRETT Associated Press Writer October 18, 2005, 2:43 PM EDT WASHINGTON -- Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff said Tuesday the government will offer a cheap, convenient alternative to a much-criticized plan to require U.S. citizens to show passports at northern border crossings. The plan, to go into effect by 2008, has had widespread opposition in northern states, where people regularly cross the border for everything from a business lunch to a hockey game. Many say a passport, which costs $97 and usually takes weeks to get, is simply too expensive. Homeland security officials have sought to assure the public there will be a cheaper alternative, but they have yet to say what that will be or how much it will cost. Chertoff tried to ease concerns during questioning from Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., at a hearing on immigration Tuesday. "It seems that we've got to find some way to get them a card that's cheap, that satisfies the legal requirements, but is as convenient to carry as, you know, walking out of the house with your driver's license," said Chertoff. Schumer said any such card also should "be quick and easy to get." Chertoff agreed, saying the agency is "working hard to make sure we do it right." So far that has proven an elusive goal. The government plans to require travelers crossing land borders to show a passport or one of four other secure documents. A driver's license or a birth certificate are used by most who cross the Canadian border now. Many New York officials, including Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., and Gov. George Pataki, have urged federal officials to abandon the passport requirement plan and use something easier to obtain. Pataki has offered the New York state driver's license or identification card, saying new standards make it secure enough for federal concerns. Clinton has said the cost of passports is too high for an upstate family with three kids. She has called for a new post within DHS to oversee northern border issues. DHS officials will visit Plattsburgh Wednesday to discuss the passport issue. Schumer will meet Thursday with a Chertoff deputy, and they will meet again in Buffalo next week. ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Fair play? Video games influencing politics. Click and talk back! http://us.click.yahoo.com/VpgUKB/pzNLAA/cUmLAA/TySplB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> -------------------------- Want to discuss this topic? Head on over to our discussion list, [EMAIL PROTECTED] -------------------------- Brooks Isoldi, editor [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.intellnet.org Post message: osint@yahoogroups.com Subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] *** FAIR USE NOTICE. This message contains copyrighted material whose use has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. OSINT, as a part of The Intelligence Network, is making it available without profit to OSINT YahooGroups members who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information in their efforts to advance the understanding of intelligence and law enforcement organizations, their activities, methods, techniques, human rights, civil liberties, social justice and other intelligence related issues, for non-profit research and educational purposes only. We believe that this constitutes a 'fair use' of the copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Law. If you wish to use this copyrighted material for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use,' you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/osint/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
