ken oplinger, president/ ceo bellingham/whatcom chamber of commerce & industry ken@bellingham
DESCRIPTION
Moving People Across the Canada-United States Border: Legislative and Regulatory Developments in Immigration, the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, and Enhanced Drivers’ License Programs. Ken Oplinger, President/ CEO Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber of Commerce & Industry [email protected] - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
P.O. Box 958Bellingham, WA 98227
(360) 393-9171 – [email protected]
Moving People Across the Canada-United States Border:
Legislative and Regulatory Developments in Immigration, the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, and Enhanced Drivers’ License
Programs
Ken Oplinger, President/ CEOBellingham/Whatcom Chamber of Commerce & [email protected]
Cleveland, Ohio - 19 April 2008
P.O. Box 958Bellingham, WA 98227
(360) 393-9171 – [email protected]
Surrey, BC, Canada
Blaine, WA, USA
P.O. Box 958Bellingham, WA 98227
(360) 393-9171 – [email protected]
U.S./Canada Border Overview
• Longest common border that is not militarized or actively patrolled
• 4,000 miles contiguous U.S.—5,500 altogether (U.S./Mexico border is 2,000 miles)
• 12 states, 8 provinces & 1 territory• 51 million Americans and over 30 million
Canadians• 90% of Canadians live within 100 miles
Facts
SECURE
P.O. Box 958Bellingham, WA 98227
(360) 393-9171 – [email protected]
WHTI Background
• Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act (sec. 7209) signed by President Bush in December 2004.
• Covers all travel into U.S. (includes U.S. citizens) by Jan 2008.
• Required “passport or other document, or combination of documents”- with final rules to come later.
The Problem
P.O. Box 958Bellingham, WA 98227
(360) 393-9171 – [email protected]
WHTI Background
• Subsequent action by DHS divided the implementation into two areas of travel:
– Air Travel: with implementation on 23 January 2007.
– Land & Sea Travel: with implementation January 2008.
• Congress put language in the FY 2007 DHS Appropriations Bill that set land and sea implementation in June 2009, but allowed it earlier if DHS could certify they were ready.
– End of Oral Declarations still January 31, 2008.
The Problem
P.O. Box 958Bellingham, WA 98227
(360) 393-9171 – [email protected]
WHTI Background
• DHS made it clear they were going to certify preparedness for themselves, and issued a new set of implementation dates for land and sea:
– End of oral declarations on 23 January 2008
– Final implementation sometime in the summer of 2008.
• Congress put language in the FY 2008 DHS Approps Bill precluding implementation before June 2009.
• DHS went forward with the end of oral declarations, and has issued final rule for WHTI with a June 2009 final implementation
The Problem
P.O. Box 958Bellingham, WA 98227
(360) 393-9171 – [email protected]
WHTI Background
• Passports– Only 26% of Americans and 40% of Canadians have a
passport (30% of Congress)– Costs $97/person in U.S.– 6-8+ weeks to process
Documentation Allowed
P.O. Box 958Bellingham, WA 98227
(360) 393-9171 – [email protected]
WHTI Background
• Pre-clearance programs – Harder to get than passport– $50 for NEXUS; 6-8 (or less) weeks to process– No guaranteed access to lanes– Low enrollment (180,000 nationwide in NEXUS; only 6% of
those eligible are in FAST)
Documentation Allowed
P.O. Box 958Bellingham, WA 98227
(360) 393-9171 – [email protected]
WHTI Background
• “Passport Lite”—new border ID (PASS Card)– Similar documentation and wait times as passport– Cheaper and easier to carry than passport ($45)
–Does not address spontaneous travelers–Doesn’t apply to Canadians !!!
Documentation Allowed
P.O. Box 958Bellingham, WA 98227
(360) 393-9171 – [email protected]
Support for EDL
1. Machine Readable Zone2. RFID Chip3. Nationality
P.O. Box 958Bellingham, WA 98227
(360) 393-9171 – [email protected]
Level of Interest
• US– YES: Vermont, Arizona, New York, Michigan and
Washington– IN PROCESS: California, Texas
• Canada– YES: Ontario, Manitoba, BC, Quebec– IN PROCESS: New Brunswick, Nova Scotia
P.O. Box 958Bellingham, WA 98227
(360) 393-9171 – [email protected]
BESTT and WHTI
• July 2005 – Supported a “Real-ID” Solution to WHTI. (Law of the Land)
• Spent 05/06 pushing for use of existing drivers’ licenses – upgraded to Real-ID standards– Easier to get than PASS Card– More secure– More discretionary
P.O. Box 958Bellingham, WA 98227
(360) 393-9171 – [email protected]
BESTT and WHTI
• Chertoff gives his support for a “Real-ID Solution” in July 2006 (Edmonton, AB, with Stockwell Day)
• Governor Gregoire and Premier Campbell Hold Summit August 2006, announce plans for Enhanced Drivers’ License (EDL)
• Washington becomes first state to sign MOU with DHS, Spring 2007.
P.O. Box 958Bellingham, WA 98227
(360) 393-9171 – [email protected]
What is BESTT?
• A Partnership Coordinated by the:– Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber– Detroit Regional Chamber– Buffalo Niagara Partnership.
• 125 Members from 10 states and 5 provinces• Grassroots Focus – Specifically addressing the
needs and concerns of border communities
P.O. Box 958Bellingham, WA 98227
(360) 393-9171 – [email protected]
• Three organizations agree to work on WHTI (7/05)• First WHTI hearing (10/05)• First D.C. Fly In (11/05)• BESTT officially named (12/05)• D.C. Fly-in with 200+ lawmaker contacts (2/06,
9/06, 3/07, 10/07)• On-going presence in D.C. ever since
What is BESTT?
P.O. Box 958Bellingham, WA 98227
(360) 393-9171 – [email protected]
More Information
www.BESTTCoalition.com