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Session: State Capitol, Room 411 Juneau, AK 99801-1182 Phone: (907) 465-2689 Fax: (907) 465-3472 Send E-Mail Interim: 345 W Sterling Highway, Suite 102 Homer, AK 99603 Phone: (907) 235-2921 Fax: (907) 235-4008 |
Measure Urges Exemption from Formal Documentation Requirements
| For Immediate Release: April 12, 2000 | |
| Contact: | Representative Gail Phillips at (907) 465-2689. |
Juneau -- The Alaska Senate Wednesday passed House Joint Resolution 48, sponsored by Representative Gail Phillips (R-Homer).
HJR 48 asks the United States Congress to amend a new law scheduled to go into effect next year to exempt Canadian citizens from requirements to document every non-U.S. citizen entering or leaving the United States.
"If this provision is implemented it would cause massive congestion at land border crossings between the U.S. and Canada and threaten the economic structure on both sides of the border," said Phillips. "This is the longest undefended border in the world. Exempting Canadians from this requirement would help to ensure that our strong relationship with Canada, and the economic benefits of that association, would continue."
The Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 requires the Immigration and Naturalization Service to have in place by March 31, 2001, an automated system to document every non-U.S. citizen entering and exiting the United States. Every vehicle would have to stop in both directions to document the entry and departure of all non-U.S. citizens. This despite the long practice of Canada and the United States of not requiring the majority of their citizens to complete formal documentation to enter each other's country. Currently, travelers leaving the U.S. do not have to stop at U.S. Customs.
HJR 48 passed the Senate 19-1.
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