Report details challenges of new border security requirements

A new report from the U.S. and Canadian governments outlines issues and challenges associated with implementing new border security requirements under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, but it concludes that those requirements still should go into effect.

The 28-page report, released Wednesday by the Foundation for Educational Exchange between Canada and the United States, summarizes most of the key issues surrounding WHTI, which will require travelers entering the United States from any part of the Western Hemisphere to have secure, government-approved identification documents by no later than June 2009.

The report makes general policy recommendations in the areas of coordination between governments, technology, privacy, trade and tourism.

"While it is vitally important to consider ways to reduce potential economic consequences that might be associated with the WHTI, policy makers should take caution not to lose sight of why this initiative was originally introduced by the United States," the report concluded.