Bush administration’s latest passport fiasco draws scathing comments
The Bush administration came into scathing criticism after announcing for the second time in a month that officials have scaled back security plans in response to complaints.
The government will delay for at least six months a rule that Americans present passports when crossing the US border by land or sea, officials said.
Beginning in January, land and sea travelers returning from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda will be allowed to present a birth certificate and driver’s license in lieu of a passport.
Homeland Security Secretary (DHS) Michael Chertoff announced the proposed rules and new flexibility after a passport requirement for air travel to those countries produced months-long delays in processing passport applications at the State Department.
Even as recently as last week, DHS officials had insisted in the face of a public outcry that they were going forward with the tougher regulations on land and sea crossings starting in January.
“We are not going to drop the ax on Jan. 1, 2008,” said Mr Chertoff. “We’ve come to understand that it’s important to build flexibility in our systems.”
The announcement that officials would ease into the new rule was greeted with scorn by lawmakers critical of the agency, reported the AP.
Rep. Thomas Reynolds, R-N.Y., called it “more of the same bureaucratic doublespeak.”
“They ask us to trust them to get this right. Frankly these two agencies haven’t earned the trust of this Congress or the American people,” said Mr Reynolds.
The impending rule in January has rankled those living on the northern border, where people frequently cross into Canada for casual shopping and sports events.
That anger spread to all sections of the country in recent months as travelers faced a logistical nightmare of trying to get passports in time for travel. The waiting time for passports soared from around six weeks to more than three months, delaying or ruining the travel plans of thousands of Americans.
Chertoff, who in February pronounced the program was proceeding “flawlessly,” called the current delays “a hiccup.”
“I’m obviously dismayed that there was a problem in producing passports,” he said.
Report by David Wilkening
David
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
In Italy, the Meloni government congratulates itself for its tourism achievements
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive