New York businesses are warning the US Congress that requiring passports at the border will disrupt tourism and trade.
“Don’t turn the war on terrorism into the war on tourism,” urged Howard Zemsky, the leader of a New York business group.
The Department of Homeland Security’s proposed Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative would require passports at all land crossings in the US by 2008.
New York officials say the rule would impair tourism.
“Officials on both sides of the US-Canada borer argue the passport rule would reduce trade and leisure between the two countries,” reported the Associated Press.” The government, however, maintains it is necessary to prevent terrorists from entering the country.”
Report by David Wilkening
