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August 02, 2006

Border Agents Having Trouble Spotting Fake Documents

Here's another instance of the Department of Homeland Security making us feel safe (via Yahoo News):

Undercover investigators entered the United States using fake documents repeatedly this year - including some cases in which Homeland Security Department agents didn't ask for identification.

At nine border crossings on the Mexico and Canadian borders, agents "never questioned the authenticity of the counterfeit documents," according to Government Accountability Office testimony to be released Wednesday.

Now Homeland Security's side of the story (via Yahoo News):

Homeland Security spokesman Jarrod Agen said agents are trained to identify false birth certificates, driver's licenses and other documents. But he conceded that agents sometimes cannot verify more than 8,000 different kinds of currently acceptable IDs without significantly slowing border traffic.

8,000 different kinds of acceptable IDs? Are they accepting gym membership cards as a form of ID?

Apparently, the 9/11 Commission pointed out this problem a while back and Congress still hasn't fixed it (via Yahoo News):

The 9/11 Commission called for tougher ID card rules at borders to help prevent terrorists from entering the country. Responding, Congress in 2004 approved requirements for all travelers - including Americans - to show passports or a small number of other approved secure documents before entering the U.S.

Those requirements are supposed to take effect Dec. 31, 2007. But lawmakers from states that border Canada have since rebelled, contending the rules could hamper commercial and tourist travel. They are pushing to delay the rules by 17 months to ensure Homeland Security has proper technology to speed legitimate travel though border checkpoints.

Unlike the other two parties, the Libertarian Party has come up with a practical solution to immigration.

Posted by at August 2, 2006 03:45 PM

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