Have your I.D. ready U.S. Customs steps up border

Ken Johnston

U.S. Customs stepped up identification checks last week, checking everyone’s I.D. every time they crossed.
Mike Milne, spokesman for U.S. Customs and Border Protection said, “We vary our enforcement posture. Sometimes more trunk checks or I.D. checks.”
While he would not say the stepped up checks were a blitz, Milne would not say they were permanent either. He said it is, “Part of an overall effort to protect the border.”
Last week U.S. customs began checking everyone’s I.D. even if the person was known to them or had crossed earlier that day, perhaps even several times.
“Post 911 we live in a different world. We are doing our best to keep American doors open but keep the country secure,” said Milne.
While Milne understands the feelings of locals feeling a bit frustrated by the frequent checks, he said that it is a difficult job to balance safety all the while trying to keep commerce flowing across the border as freely as possible.
With two and a half years having passed since the 911 terrorist attacks in the U.S. Milne said it is easy to understand that people feel less threatened and want things to return to pre-911 normal. However, “The world changed on 911. The I.D. checks are part of our ongoing efforts to make the borders more secure.”
He further noted that U.S. Customs will continue to change their methods of protecting the border. When they have stepped up efforts, like the I.D. check they will not announce when they are happening or for how long as to not let terrorists or others seeking to get in and cause harm to others have an advantage.