Senate Votes To Delay Western Hemisphere Passport Rule

The U.S. Senate this week voted to delay new, more stringent documentation requirements for travelers between the United States and other Western Hemisphere countries, including Canada, Mexico and most of Caribbean locations.

The Senate unanimously adopted an amendment to a comprehensive immigration bill offered by Sens. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) and Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) that delays until June 1, 2009, the requirement that travelers to the United States from Western Hemisphere countries present a passport or other secure document to gain entry. The Department of Homeland Security and the Department of State announced the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative on April 5, 2005.

"We are grateful to Sen. Stevens and Sen. Leahy for recognizing the importance of this issue for travel and tourism and for demonstrating real leadership once again," said Jonathan Tisch, chairman of the Travel Business Roundtable and chairman and CEO of Loews Hotels. TBR and other organizations worry the enhanced security measures will disrupt legitimate travel and commerce across the borders.

In his statement submitted for the Congressional Record, Stevens said Alaska "is the only state in the nation which cannot be accessed by land without passing through a foreign country. Alaskans are very concerned about the impact this initiative will have on travel to and from our state."

Stevens said the 17-month delay would provide more time to properly test and implement the new guidelines.

The delay is a long way from becoming law, however. The Senate won't act again on the underlining legislation until next week, at the earliest. Even if it passes the Senate, a final measure will be shaped by a House-Senate conference committee. The House of Representatives has taken a dramatically different approach to the immigration provisions in the bill, making it a felony to reside in the country illegally or aide an illegal immigrant.