Every American must have a passport beginning Jan, 1st, '08

[Bobbieo]

to re-enter the United States

This is a sign at the port of entry between Andrade, CA and Algodones, Baja CA.

I wrote my state senator and just got this response.“My understanding is that they extended the deadline 2008 ( It was going into effect 2007) and that border residents, unless they are traveling via plane, won’t be asked to show their passports. This was meant to control our border crossings Homeland Security).”

This sign at the port of entry sign is very misleading. It does not mention air travelers and makes it sound like everyone will have to have a passport to get back into the country. I wrote back to her and suggested “Attention Air Travelers” should be posted at the top.

I know of one couple – the wife is very ill - who has already gotten their passports for $250 so they can buy her prescription drugs in Mexico.

[bluerum]

1. Just renwed mine - $60 by mail plus photo fee at Post Office. nt

[frylock]

2. my dad was told at the san ysidro border crossing..

that passports will be required whether you are flying, driving or walking back into the US side.

[Bobbieo]

4. Frylock - I wondered about that. Maybe my state senator does not

fully understand the ruling. It will never keep terrorists or illegal immigrants from getting into the country but it will sure stop people from going to Mexico and Canada to buy prescription drugs. It will also ruin the economies of small border communities.

[bperci108]

3. Welcome to the new and improved Police State.

...where formerly "free" citizens, (now merely subjects), have to provide their "Papers" when asked for them by a jack-booted thug...er, I mean Civil Servant.


:puke:

[mitchtv]

5. partner and I just renewed ours

I got the chip, he didn't. What gives?

[Buzz Clik]

6. "Your papers are not in order. Come with me, please."

[itsrobert]

7. No, you are wrong. You need a passport for Air Travel to Mexico JAN 23, 2007

New Requirements for Travelers Between the United States and Mexico: Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) effective January 23, 2007, all U.S. citizens traveling by air to and from Mexico are required to have a valid passport to enter the United States. As early as January 1, 2008, U.S. citizens traveling between the United States and Mexico by land or sea (including ferries), may be required to present a valid U.S. passport or other documents as determined by the Department of Homeland Security. Ample advance notice will be provided to enable the public to obtain passports or passport cards for land/sea entries. American citizen travelers are encouraged to apply for a U.S. passport or the passport card when it becomes available, well in advance of anticipated travel. American citizens can visit travel.state.gov or call 1-877-4USA-PPT (1-877-487-2778) for information on applying for a passport.


http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/regional/regional_1174.html

[onethatcares]

12. that sentence

"or as determined by the Department of Homeland Security" is the one we have to be very afraid of. The rules can change constantly and we'd have to be informed on an hourly or minutely basis as to what the other papers would have to be.

Twenty years ago, who would have thought this is what we devolved to??

[dipsydoodle]

8. Welcome to the real world

Sounds like you're about to become the same as all of the other countries on the planet who already have that requirement.

[Bobbieo]

10. Apparently my incoming state senator doesn't have her facts right

I live on the border. My dentist is in Mexico and also get one prescription drug there. This will have a dire effect on everyone around here. It is 1984 and Big Brother has arrived!

[karlrschneider]

9. Here's the straight dope from the State Dep't

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html

[deadmessengers]

11. $250?!?!

We paid less than $150 for my wife's and daughter's passports about a year ago. They didn't get preyed on by a "passport broker" did they?

[SoCalifer]

13. Question:

What happens if you drive to Tijuana for the day and don't have a passport? What are they going to do? Deny a U.S. Citizen their right to go home? Arrest him because his "papers are not in order"? Shoot him as a spy or what?

What will happen?

[nadinbrzezinski]

15. I cuold tell you horror storise

in fact I will tell you horror stories

When I was a medic in Tijuana we had to ensure that a patient, especially if they looked hispanic or black, had their papers on them... eother green card or passport

A couple times family had to go home and get them documents

My job was not to ensure that, but INS sort of made it a requirement and boy this was well before 9.11, by about 10 years or more

My advise, you go there, carry a passport

[SoCalDem]

14. The US has finally caught up with the rest of the world.

ID is a FACT OF LIFE.. and since we are seemingly eager to "keep the bad guys out", the ONLY way to even start in this task is to identify EVERYONE,.

It's not that big a deal, people.

Want to have proof positive that you are a citizen and deserve to vote? Carry a US passport to the registrar's office to register, and a copy of the registration form itself to vote tucked inside the passport when you go vote. I DARE anyone to deny you your right to vote.

Sure it costs money to get one, but they don't expire for a long time, and renewals are not as expensive.

Some of us may not like the idea of it, but unless you identify EVERYONE, profiling WILL happen more and more.
If everyone is expected to have a passport, it should be no big deal to ask people to produce one if there's a doubt as to their citizenship.

[The2ndWheel]

16. So either way then

"but unless you identify EVERYONE, profiling WILL happen more and more"

Either way it's about control. More and more control.

"ID is a FACT OF LIFE"

Yup, welcome to the 21st century. You aren't you without it. Hell, you aren't you without some kind of piece of paper telling you who you are, where you are, or when you are.

[SoCalDem]

17. Whe I was a kid, every business had BLANK checks on the check out

counters. People just wrote in the numbers and gave you the check.. No questions asked,..

and few if any bounced checks too.

times have changed..

[left is right]

19. "ID is a FACT OF LIFE" too true

I, for the last 17 years, have worked for a US government agency that has absolutely nothing to for with DHS. When I was hired in I was finger-printed, had to show a picture ID, and subjected to a FBI background check. In November, I had to produce 2 forms of ID to prove I was the person I claimed to be in order to have my picture taken for my new smart-chip badge. Admitted-one of the acceptable forms of ID was my government issued badge. Always before, picture was taken, wait about 5 minutes for the computer to generate a new badge, turn in the old one and receive new one--no one ever looked at it during the rebadging process. Replacement of lost badge required waiting at least 3 days, writing a brief statement about how/when it was lost and what steps were taken to find it. Computer just regenerated a new badge, no new picture was taken.

[Hekate]

18. "Show us your papers. Are your papers in order?" lines from every movie about WW II Germany

Chilling.

I don't care how much the government says they need to ID everyone on the planet for our own good, I don't have any reason whatsoever to trust the Bush Regime. They have too much information and too much power, and they misuse both.

Happy new year.

Hekate