A tale of two (border) cities

Monday was D-Day (as in Documentation Day) when the “Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative” (i.e., “Show us ze papers” act) went into effect:  United States citizens entering their own country have to show a passport.  The Associated Press tried to spin the narrative that there were only minor problems… and — obviously — those nice friendly Federal officials treat everyone the same, whether in Buffalo or El Paso… right?

Jessica Whitaker of London, Ontario, didn’t have a passport and was reminded of the new requirement before officials allowed her in to the U.S. at the busiest passenger northern crossing, the Peace Bridge between Buffalo N.Y., and Fort Erie, Ontario.

“They were very nice, very polite,” said Whitaker, who had a birth certificate and driver’s license.

And there were some hiccups.

In El Paso, U.S. citizen Rosario Aragon said she got into a heated, 30-minute discussion with a border agent demanding a passport for her 9-year-old girl, even though U.S. and Canadian children under the age of 16 only have to present a birth certificate. He finally let her through after taking her daughter’s name and warning her to get an official ID from local police.