Tougher ID rules kick in at U.S. land/sea borders

Motorists easily passed through U.S.-Canada border checkpoints today as enforcement of new ID rules began.

Under the new rules, U.S. and Canadians citizens will no longer be allowed to simply verbally declare their citizenship to immigration officers at border crossings, said Jayson Ahern, deputy commissioner with U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Instead, those 19 and older will have to show proof of citizenship — a passport, trusted traveler card or a birth certificate as well as government-issued photo ID such as a driver's license — under the new U.S. law that took effect today. Those 18 and under need a birth certificate only.

There were no additional delays during the morning rush hour in Detroit, which has the busiest border crossing between the two countries, said Ron Smith, a spokesman for U.S. Customs and Border Protection in Detroit. And traffic was moving smoothly in both directions this morning at the Peace Arch border crossing at Blaine between Washington and British Columbia.

Officers at the border crossings will have latitude to admit people who are unaware of the changes once their identities are confirmed, Ahern said. The new ID requirement is part of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative which Congress approved in 2004. It requires verified citizenship and identification of all those entering the U.S. from Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. Eventually a passport will be required for land and sea crossings, likely starting in June 2009. Air travelers already are required to have passports.

Critics of the new land/sea ID rule, particularly in northern border states, have assailed Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff over the changes. Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minn., accused him of not understanding "the practical effects of DHS policies on the everyday lives of border community residents."

But Ahern said new passport cards (that are cheaper than passports) will allow citizens to cross the border effectively and efficiently. Applications should be available starting Friday, although processing will take three to four months. Cards without previously issued passports will cost $45 for adults and $35 for children; they will cost $20 and $10, respectively, for those with passports.

Drivers' licenses enhanced with proof of citizenship and a radio frequency identification chip also will be accepted, Ahern added. Washington is one of the first states to issued the high-tech licenses, called an enhanced driver's license, and a similar enhanced ID card which can be used to cross the border, serving as both proof of citizenship and identification.

Ahern, the deputy commissioner with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, said he does not expect delays at border crossings because of the new requirements. That contradicted Chertoff's comments earlier this month that longer lines will be inevitable at first.

Kristin Jackson of Seattle Times Travel contributed to this report. kjackson@seattletimes.com