Senate extends border ID deadline

WASHINGTON – The Senate voted Wednesday to delay for 17 months a requirement that Americans re-entering the United States after cruises or short visits to Canada and Mexico show passports or high-tech identification cards.

The Senate would push back a Jan. 1, 2008, deadline for the requirement that Americans show the documents. A driver’s license usually satisfies customs and border inspectors now.

The measure was adopted as an amendment to a broader immigration bill before the Senate. The new deadline for having to show a passport or ID card would move to June 1, 2009, if the bill becomes law.

Canadians also will have to show a passport or high-tech ID to enter the United States, even for short visits. Short-term Mexican visitors already must have tamperproof cards, known as laser visas, to enter the U.S.

Congress required the new documentation as part of the 2004 intelligence reform law. New concerns have risen since then about the cost of the documents to the government and individuals, and how tourism and business travel might be affected.

Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., said the State and Homeland Security departments haven’t gotten together yet on what kind of new IDs to require.

“We want to buy enough time to fix these problems beforehand, instead of having to fix the mess it will cause afterward,” Leahy said.