Jun
18
The US Department of Homeland Security is fighting a move by congress to delay a requirement that a passport is needed for re-entry from Mexico, Canada, Bermuda, and Caribbean Islands. This is putting the US borders at risk. The reason congress is presenting to delay the passport rule is due to the huge backlog of processing of new passports. Homeland security spokesman Russ Knocke says in USAToday:
“That is just simply not acceptable to us. There are very bad people in this world who want to find ways to get into our country and kill Americans, and it seems to me that equipping frontline personnel with every tool and authority we can … would be something that any officials at any level of government or in any party would want to do”
The new rules would be phased in January of 2008 but Congress wants it to be pushed back until June of 2009 at the earliest! Congress wants the delay due to the fact that the State Department is dealing with a surge of 500,000 passport applications that have not been filled for more than 12 weeks!
Russ Knocke should then worry about the three million illegals who have walked accross the border since 9-11. Wonder if they had their passports? Why is it when I fly in from europe, I have a customs agent go through my bag after it was checked by the airport I flew from. Then when I drive accross the border from mexico I’m waved through without my car being checked? But if we all have passports then no bad guys can enter the country. I feel safer already. Honestly, I’m more worried about getting hit by a car because the driver is on his/her cell phone. And I live in New York City.
I do agree with you Sam. We have a lot more to worry about right with the illegals since 9-11. Something HAS to be done about it immediately. This is a totally different world. We cannot be relaxed about this anymore.