| The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) | | | | travelers based on nothing more than a person's oral |
| reminds travelers that beginning January 31, 2008, | | | | assertion of citizenship. During October to December |
| border crossers will be asked to present documents | | | | 2007 alone, CBP officers reported 1,517 cases of |
| denoting citizenship and identity when entering the | | | | individuals falsely claiming to be U.S. citizens. Last |
| United States through land and sea ports of entry. | | | | month, CBP officials determined that an individual |
| This change primarily affects United States and | | | | falsely claiming to be a U.S. citizen was wanted for |
| Canadian citizens, who have previously been | | | | homicide in California. This individual was paroled for |
| permitted entry by oral declaration alone, and marks | | | | entry into the U.S. and transported into the custody |
| the transition toward standard and consistent | | | | of the San Diego Sheriff's Department. Separately, |
| documents for all travelers entering the country. It is | | | | multiple Government Accountability Office and |
| also the start of a more robust and concerted public | | | | Inspector General reports have highlighted |
| education campaign, intended to inform travelers of | | | | weaknesses associated with oral declarations and |
| document requirements which will be implemented | | | | substandard documentation. |
| next year. | | | | Standard and consistent documentation is critical for |
| "For the safety of the American people, the United | | | | border officials to accurately determine admissibility |
| States cannot have an honor system at the border," | | | | into the United States. The Jan. 31 change is a step |
| said Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. | | | | forward from the largely subjective standard that |
| "Requiring secure and reliable documentation at our | | | | allowed travelers to present an almost limitless array |
| borders will drastically reduce security vulnerabilities | | | | of documents, such as baptismal certificates, to |
| posed by permitting entry based on oral declarations | | | | satisfy CBP officers of their citizenship. This change |
| alone. As travelers become accustomed to carrying | | | | will allow frontline officers to standardize inspections |
| documents to cross the border, and as we move to | | | | against a narrower class of documents, and CBP has |
| more stringent documentation requirements, our | | | | protocols in place to verify the authenticity of |
| border officers will be able to more quickly and | | | | suspicious driver licenses and guard against the use of |
| confidently identify cross-border travelers." | | | | counterfeit or altered licenses. |
| Beginning Jan. 31 of this year, U.S. and Canadian | | | | DHS has maintained a consistent public awareness |
| citizens ages 19 and older should no longer expect | | | | and information campaign to ensure that the traveling |
| that an oral declaration alone will be sufficient to | | | | public is aware of the new travel documentation |
| prove identity and citizenship for entry into the | | | | requirements under the Western Hemisphere Travel |
| country. Instead, travelers will be asked to present | | | | Initiative (WHTI). The transition beginning Jan. 31 will |
| documentation from a specified list of acceptable | | | | allow travelers to become accustomed to the need |
| documents when entering the U.S. at land and sea | | | | to present appropriate documents. Travelers who |
| ports of entry. Examples include birth certificates and | | | | apply for a passport card, passport, Trusted Traveler |
| driver's licenses. A complete list of acceptable | | | | Program cards, or other secure documentation |
| documents is available to travelers at ports of entry | | | | denoting both citizenship and identity in response to |
| and is also available at Travelers who do not present | | | | the Jan. 31 change will not need to take additional |
| one of these documents may be delayed while U.S. | | | | steps to meet the final WHTI requirements upon full |
| Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers | | | | implementation in June 2009. |
| attempt to verify their identity and citizenship. | | | | U.S. citizens may begin applying in advance for the |
| Children ages 18 and under will only need to present | | | | new U.S. Passport Card on Feb. 1, 2008, in anticipation |
| a birth certificate. | | | | of land border travel document requirements. The |
| In order to further secure our borders against illegal | | | | U.S. Department of State expects that cards will be |
| entry, the U.S. will no longer be able to admit | | | | available and mailed to applicants in spring 2008. |