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 News from Around the Americas | April 2006 
Bush Says Border ID Need Not Hurt Ties
 George E. Condon Jr. & S. Lynne Walker - Copley News
| | U.S. President George W. Bush reacts during a joint news conference with Mexican President Vicente Fox and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper in Cancun, Mexico March 31, 2006. Bush is taking time to explain himself, open up to the public in new ways and court the U.S. Congress as he tries to breathe life into a presidency beset by sagging ratings and influence. (Chris Wattie/Reuters) |
President Bush concluded his two-day summit with the leaders of Mexico and Canada, declaring progress on security issues but acknowledging concerns that border crossings may be complicated when new travel documents are required at the end of next year.
The Bush administration has been struggling for more than a year to come up with a secure travel ID card that will meet the requirements of a 2004 law without lengthening already long lines at U.S. border crossings or bringing commerce to a halt.
Since Congress passed the legislation, Bush has been trying to reassure the Canadian and Mexican governments that he will find a way to smoothly implement it.
The law requires everyone entering the United States, including U.S. citizens, to have a passport or other unspecified “secure” document by Dec. 31, 2007.
“Obviously, we are concerned,” Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said. “I expressed those concerns to President Bush, and I know they've been expressed by Canadian business leaders as well.”
Standing alongside Bush and Mexican President Vicente Fox at the news conference that concluded their summit, Harper added that if Bush doesn't find an answer “quickly and properly,” the ID requirement “could have effects on trade and movement of people, conventions – you name it – that (are) not helpful to our economy or to relationships.”
Currently, Americans crossing the land border back into the United States often need to show no more than an ID card, often a driver's license. Beginning at the end of this year, those traveling by air or sea from Mexico or Canada must present a passport.
Bush, who admitted shortly after signing the bill into law that he was surprised by the stricter travel ID requirement, acknowledged the concerns and the potential impact on businesses that depend on frequent crossings of the northern and southern borders.
“I understand this issue has created consternation,” he said, noting that Harper had “made it very clear to me that he's very worried that such an implementation of the law on the books will make it less likely people will want to travel between our countries.”
Bush added: “I've heard from business leaders who are concerned about the bookings for conventions. And so what I've told the prime minister, and told President Fox as well, is that we have an obligation to work very closely with our counterparts to provide a set of standards as to what will meet the obligations of the law.”
He expressed confidence that “this can be done in such a way that it makes future travel, future relations stronger, not weaker.”
However, he indicated that he will not try to change the law.
“The Congress passed a law and I intend to enforce the law,” Bush said.
He has ordered Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff to work with officials in Mexico and Canada to come up with a high-tech card, stating he envisions “a card that can be swiped across a . . . reading device that facilitates the movement of people.”
On another matter near the top of the summit agenda, the president again called on Congress to give him a comprehensive immigration bill that creates a guest-worker program and doesn't just punish those who have come into the country illegally to work.
However, he sidestepped a chance to threaten a veto if Congress doesn't give him that package.
Pressed on a possible veto, Bush replied, “No answer. I said I want a comprehensive bill. You're assuming there won't be a comprehensive bill.”
Bush claimed progress in improving the immigration bill, and he drew a chuckle from Fox when he mentioned the old line that watching a law being made is like seeing sausage made.
“It probably appears a little unpleasant from your perspective,” he said to Fox. “But we're making progress, and I want a comprehensive bill. And I've made that very clear to the members of the Congress, and I will continue making it clear to members of Congress.”
Beyond immigration, the three leaders pledged to work together more closely on security, trade and business issues. Earlier in the day, they met with business executives who came here to urge more harmony in regulations they face when moving their goods from country to country.
“We are living today in an integrated economy,” Fox agreed. “We cannot afford the politics of isolation.”
Bush said the leaders focused on how to bring prosperity to more citizens across the continent. “You can't achieve a standard-of-living increase for your people unless you have a prosperous neighborhood,” he said, crediting the 12-year-old NAFTA agreement with ushering in that prosperity.
Fox also hailed the free-trade pact, saying its benefits have been evident across the continent. He ruled out any changes to NAFTA. “We are not renegotiating what has been successful,” he said, noting that the leaders now are “going beyond the agreement, both for prosperity and security.”
To that end, they announced the creation of a North American Competitiveness Council, designed to work with the private sector on security and regulations.
The three leaders also agreed to coordinate their efforts to combat any outbreak of avian flu on this continent and to work together in cases of emergency.
From Cancun, Bush flew to his ranch in Crawford, Texas, for the weekend before going to Cincinnati on Monday to toss out the first pitch at the Reds' home baseball opener. |
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