Passport rules tighten border: No backups reported on Day 1

Tighter security at the U.S. border ports of entry started Thursday, but early reports indicated there were no major backups or paperwork glitches at the Nogales port of entry.

The new rules are a kind of introduction to much tighter regulations that go into effect in June 2009.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection said the new rules that started this week will require more than just a declaration of “U.S. citizen” for homeward bound Americans.

For years, that declaration and sometimes a drivers’ license for identification was all that was needed.

Thursday’s first day at the busy ports was so quiet, Port Director James Tong told the Greater Nogales Santa Cruz County Port authority that it was “a non event.”

During the early, graveyard, shift about 1,300 pedestrians came through the turnstiles at the Grand Avenue crossing point and about 15 didn’t have their necessary documents.

The word to the people at the turnstiles was “to keep business as usual.”

Agents gave those who hadn’t heard about the changes a pamphlet explaining the new regulations.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative originally called for all re-entering Americans to have a passport, but it was extended because of the huge number of passport orders being handled by the U.S. State Department.

In a telephone briefing for media, Bob Jacksta, deputy assistant commissioner for field operations for customs and border protection, said: “Why are we doing this? We can’t continue after 9/11, to allow people to come in with just an oral declaration. That’s not enough to secure our country .”

On that same call, Kathleen Kraninger, director of Homeland Security’s screening coordination office, said: “We think it’s well past the time where the American public can merely say, ‘Hi, I’m home’ and come across the border.”

Jackson said in the past two years border agents have detected 31,000 false claims of American citizenship.”

There was no estimate given for how many weren’t detected.

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said: “For the safety of the American people, the United States cannot have an honor system at the border.”

Many local post offices and other government offices take passport applications. It costs about $97 and requires a birth certificate to apply and two photos. Locally the only place to apply is at the Sahuarita Municipal Court, 1691 West Duval Commerce Court, suite 151.

The State Department is also issuing a new passport card; cost $45. They’re accepted at only at Mexican and Canadian crossing points.

jlamb@gvnews.com | 547-9749