Expect delays… 1 June 2009

Change one word, and Sarah Hubbard, of the Detroit Chamber of Commerce could have been speaking for the Chamber of Commerce of San Diego, Calexico, Nogales, Douglas, El Paso, Presidio, Del Rio, Eagle Pass, Laredo, Roma, McAllen or Brownsville.

“We have families living on both sides of the border. We have business partnerships on both sides of the border.

“We believe our community is unique because it is bi-national,” Ms. Hubbard added. “It’s seamless in many ways.”

…
“We have many people who come from Canada and tell us they don’t feel welcome when they cross the border,” she said. “We talk about those complaints with our friends on the border, and they tell us their job is security, not customer service.”

Like there wasn’t outrage in Mexico, or in California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas?

Given that the premise was to stop “terrorists” from crossing the border (which has happened at the U.S./Canadian border, not the U.S./Mexican one), there is at least some justification for the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, which goes into effect on June First, and requires basically a passport* to enter the United States from anywhere… even for citizens*  But, then, when the law was passed, it never was for it’s intended purpose, but meant as a sop to the anti-immigrant crowd.  Too bad Homeland Security oberfuhrer, Janet Napolitano is taking the law at its face value.  Inconvenient, that.   The law is the law…even when it’s idiotic.

*Yes, yes, I know.  People can get one of those “frequent crosser cards” which still cost a chunk of change …  or show a few other “secure travel documents” (and get hassled in the process), but in addition to the cost and inconvenience, it sort of works against the whole “North American Free Trade” concept.