COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM ACT OF 2006

[david_dawei]

COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM ACT OF 2006 (June 5, 2006 Update) - Summary of key provisions

 

http://www.ilw.com/search/documentFrame.as...130&req=I%2D601

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Some interesting reading on various items..

 

I had previously seen comments about the "new passport" for Canada and Mexico... comments below:

 

A new Section 135 is added to S. 2611 regarding the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative. The WHTI will require US, Canadian and Mexican citizens to have passports to travel back and forth across the US~{!/~} international borders beginning January 1, 2008.

The date will now be postponed until the later of June 1, 2009 or three months after the Secretary of State and Secretary of Homeland Security make the required certification.

A new ~{!0~}Passport Card~{!1~} will be created to facilitate travel of US citizens to Canada, Mexico and Caribbean countries. The Passport Card will be valid for the same period as a passport and can be used by US citizens at land and sea ports between the US and

Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean and Bermuda. The Passport Card shall be designed to be compliant with the new Expedited Traveler Programs and shall be portable and durable. The fee will be between $24 and $34. A reduced fee will apply if a person

applies for this jointly with a passport.

The manager~{!/~}s amendment also requires DHS and DOS to enter into agreements with at least one state to establish a program include an individual~{!/~}s citizenship status on a driver~{!/~}s license meeting the REAL ID Act of 2005 requirements. A state may not require an individual to include the individual~{!/~}s status on a driver~{!/~}s license, but if the status is included, the document can be used as an entry document to enter the US from Mexico or Canada through not less than at least one entry point in a participating state. DOS and DHS will also be permitted to establish a reciprocal arrangement with Canada in order to allow Canadians to use their driver~{!/~}s licenses to enter the US.

DHS shall extend expedited traveler programs to all ports of entry and shall encourage all US citizens to participate in such pre-enrollment programs.

DHS will be required to establish a program to allow US citizen without a passport to cross into Canada or Mexico and return within 72 hours. DHS will also establish a grace period to allow US and Canadian citizens to travel without a passport when they lack

awareness of the passport requirement and can otherwise demonstrate their citizenship.

DHS will also set up a procedure to allow children to enter without passports from Canada and Mexico by land when they are traveling under adult supervision with parental consent.

[MikeandRong]

Once they get the bugs worked out, I hope it streamlines the process for them.

 

The idea of the US citizenship on the DL is a nice thought too. I bet it will eventually lead up to a national ID sooner or later.