Update on Border Issues

Update on Border Issues

Border Legislative ConferenceBorder Legislative Conference

Border Trade AllianceBorder Trade AlliancePhoenix, ArizonaPhoenix, Arizona

December 8, 2006December 8, 2006

BTABTA

Tri-national organization with 20 Years of Tri-national organization with 20 Years of existenceexistence

Advocate for the facilitation of movement Advocate for the facilitation of movement of goods and peopleof goods and people

Mission is to improve the quality of life of Mission is to improve the quality of life of border communitiesborder communities

Committee-driven organization made up of Committee-driven organization made up of volunteersvolunteers

Pre – 9/11Pre – 9/11 Benchmarks to cross the borderBenchmarks to cross the border

20 Minutes20 Minutes in any 24 hour time frame in any 24 hour time frameDocuments required of Mexican travelers Documents required of Mexican travelers

ONLYONLYLaser Visa as of 1997 (Laser Visa as of 1997 (valid for 10 yearsvalid for 10 years))US and Canadian Citizens can make oral US and Canadian Citizens can make oral

declarationdeclaration The border considered an inconvenienceThe border considered an inconvenience No national headlinesNo national headlines

Post – 9/11Post – 9/11 Average wait times in excess of Average wait times in excess of 45 minutes45 minutes in a 24-hour period; in a 24-hour period; Eventual Eventual exit controlsexit controls at borders; at borders; Ongoing Battle of Security VS. Facilitation;Ongoing Battle of Security VS. Facilitation; “ “Not Under My Watch” mentality;Not Under My Watch” mentality; Drastic increase in inspection standards, procedures and Drastic increase in inspection standards, procedures and personnel;personnel; More Fences;More Fences; National Guard (National Guard (unarmedunarmed);); National headlines and key theme in national politics; andNational headlines and key theme in national politics; and MoreMore

Now at the BorderNow at the Border

DHS;DHS; CBP;CBP; ICE;ICE; US-VISIT;US-VISIT; WHTI;WHTI; ACE;ACE; SENTRI;SENTRI;

C-TPAT;C-TPAT; FASTFAST TWIC;TWIC; SPP;SPP; PPP; PPP; SBInet; andSBInet; and MoreMore

Areas that need our Areas that need our attentionattention

Infrastructure at our Ports of EntryInfrastructure at our Ports of Entry

Inspection proceduresInspection procedures

Staffing and trainingStaffing and training

Resource allocation & management proceduresResource allocation & management procedures

Bilateral coordinationBilateral coordination

Shared border environmentShared border environment

Perception of the borderPerception of the border

“ “We Are All In This TogetherWe Are All In This Together””

InfrastructureInfrastructure

ModeMode BillionsBillions

RoadRoad $491$491

RailRail $116$116

WaterWater $58$58

PipelinePipeline $52$52

AirAir $33$33

TotalTotal $750$750Source: 2005 US Department of Transportation

Trade continues to grow at a faster pace than Trade continues to grow at a faster pace than infrastructure.infrastructure.

Mexican Inspection

US Inspection

N

MX

US

Southbound

ADOT

Northbound

Cattle Pens

FAST Lanes

InfrastructureInfrastructure GSA and BTA formed a partnership to provide input on GSA and BTA formed a partnership to provide input on

future of infrastructure at our ports of entry:future of infrastructure at our ports of entry:

BetterBetter

CheaperCheaper

FasterFaster

Presidential Permit ProcessPresidential Permit Process

Public-Private PartnershipsPublic-Private Partnerships

US-VISITUS-VISIT

USUS VVisitor and isitor and IImmigrant mmigrant SStatus tatus IIndicator ndicator TTechnologyechnology

• Delays in uploading dataDelays in uploading data• No signage or video presentationsNo signage or video presentations• Technology not integratedTechnology not integrated• No adoption of technology in No adoption of technology in inspection processinspection process• Single vendor testingSingle vendor testing• Testing affects ONLY 3% to 4% of Testing affects ONLY 3% to 4% of traveling publictraveling public

WHTIWHTI WWestern estern HHemisphereemisphere T Travelravel I Initiativenitiative Recommended by the 9/11 CommissionRecommended by the 9/11 Commission All US Citizens entering into the United States All US Citizens entering into the United States

need to present a passport or a DHS recognized need to present a passport or a DHS recognized ID.ID.

Will be required at exit as wellWill be required at exit as well Only 23% of US population have passportsOnly 23% of US population have passports

(71 million active passports)(71 million active passports) According to the Department of State they According to the Department of State they

expect to process 15 million passports next yearexpect to process 15 million passports next yearNew PASS Card for Land BordersNew PASS Card for Land Borders

WHTIWHTI Amendment to delay the implementation of WHTI Amendment to delay the implementation of WHTI

until June of 2009.until June of 2009. Remaining Issues:Remaining Issues:

Coordination between DOS and DHS;Coordination between DOS and DHS;DOS Ability to issue PassportsDOS Ability to issue PassportsOutreach to traveling publicOutreach to traveling publicRecognition of alternative documentsRecognition of alternative documents““Day Traveler”Day Traveler”

Technology compatibilityTechnology compatibility The WHTI Federal Register Notice for Land POE’s will The WHTI Federal Register Notice for Land POE’s will

be published soon.be published soon.

C-TPAT Rail ProjectC-TPAT Rail Project Partnership with C-TPAT companies, Rail companies, Partnership with C-TPAT companies, Rail companies,

CBP, FRA and state organizationsCBP, FRA and state organizations

Goal to expedite dedicated rail for C-TPAT Goal to expedite dedicated rail for C-TPAT companiescompanies

Maximize existing infrastructureMaximize existing infrastructure

Focus technology and dedicated programs to low Focus technology and dedicated programs to low risk cargorisk cargo

ACE ACE ((Automated Customs EnvironmentAutomated Customs Environment))

The program enables commercial motor The program enables commercial motor carriers and shippers to submit their manifests carriers and shippers to submit their manifests electronically prior to their arrival at U.S. port electronically prior to their arrival at U.S. port of entry.of entry.

The program is designed to reduce The program is designed to reduce processing times and for online tracking of processing times and for online tracking of shipments.shipments.

The E-Manifest Federal Register Notice will The E-Manifest Federal Register Notice will be published soon.be published soon.