|
Wednesday, November 22 2006 @ 01:17 PM Central Standard Time
|
 WASHINGTON – Effective Jan. 23 almost all air travelers entering the United States including U.S. citizens shall be required to show passports, said the Homeland Security Department.
The Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said, "The ability to misuse travel documents to enter this country opens the door for a terrorist to carry out an attack.”
Up to date U.S. citizens, vacationers from Canada and Bermuda, and some Mexican travelers who acquired special border-crossing cards for recurrent visits, were permitted to show other proofs of identification.
Chertoff also said, "Right now, there are 8,000 different state and local entities in the U.S. issuing birth certificates and driver's licenses. Having to distinguish phony from real in so many different documents "puts an enormous burden on our Customs and Border inspectors.”
The steps are geared toward supporting U.S. campaign against terrorist attack.
Jade Amethyst |
|
