Documents for Border Crossing

Director of the Department of Homeland Security, Michael Chertoff, has announced that that “inexpensive identity documents” will be developed for Americans whose routine takes them regularly across the Mexican or Canadian borders.  Until now, U.S. persons who have traveled to countries in the Western Hemisphere have not needed to present passports upon their return, but a 2004 law requires that secure documents be presented.  The “inexpensive identity documents” proposed by Chertoff can be used in place of passports.

A brief story on the announcement is here.   Is this really a step up from the initial proposal, which would have required passports for such border crossings?  It’s not entirely clear (to me, anyway) how the issuance of yet another document will enhance border security, but it will certainly impact border crossing times for thousands of people, will likely hamper trade, and will almost inevitably create a new niche market for document fraud.  We’ll see how this rolls out….

-jmc