NORTHERN BORDER

The Northern Border of the United States has been long neglected compared to our Southern Border. In all, our Northern Border stretches for more than 4,000 miles and incorporates sections of 12 different states. Seven hundred twenty-one of these 4,000 miles belong to Michigan, giving our state the longest section of the U.S.-Canadian border in the contiguous United States. By comparison, our Southern Border measures just 1,933 miles and includes only four states.

As the 9/11 Commission pointed out in its final report, the Northern Border has traditionally received dramatically less attention - and resources - from the federal government. In fact, on September 11, 2001, there were less than 400 Border Patrol agents assigned to the Northern Border compared to more than 8,000 along the Southern Border. That means more than 20 times the number of agents were covering less than half of the distance. The risks of inadequate staffing on the Northern Border became even clearer when border security was tightened after the September 11th attacks, resulting in unacceptable backups of 12 hours or more at border crossings in Southeast Michigan. Fortunately, there are now more than 1,000 Border Patrol agents along the Northern Border, including a large increase in Southeastern Michigan. Senator Levin will continue to work with his colleagues from Northern Border states to ensure the Northern Border is adequately staffed.

First Responders

Senator Levin is also concerned about the ability of first responders in border states like Michigan to communicate in the event of a terrorist attack or major disaster because of the unique challenges they face. Like first responders around the country, they must be able to communicate with a variety of federal, state, and local entities. What is often overlooked is that first responders near border crossings must also be able to maintain seamless communication with their Canadian counterparts across the border.

Senator Levin was successful in including language in two Senate-passed bills (FY06 DHS Appropriations bill (P.L.109-90) and the Deficit Reduction Act (P.L.109-171)), and in S 4, the Improving America's Security by Implementing Unfinished Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007, which was signed into law and will require the Secretary of Homeland security to establish International Border Community Interoperable Communications Demonstration Projects on the Northern and Southern Borders to improve collaboration and help identify common frequencies for cross border communications.

Northern Border Air Wing

Senator Levin is pleased by the Department of Homeland Security's selection of Southeast Michigan as the home of a new Northern Border Air Wing, an initiative launched by the Department of Homeland Security in 2004 to improve Northern Border security. The air wing will enhance law enforcement, surveillance and response capabilities along the border, and its location in southeast Michigan places it near three of our nation's busiest border crossings. The new air wing should also spur the deployment of new homeland security technologies and improve coordination among the National Guard, Customs and Border Protection, and federal, state and local law enforcement personnel already deployed along the Northern Border. Senator Levin will continue to work to expedite the rollout of the new air wing and additional Department of Homeland Security assets in Southeast Michigan.

New Identification Requirements for Travel to Canada

In December 2004, Congress passed the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 mandated that the U.S. Departments of Homeland Security and State develop and implement a plan to require U.S. citizens and foreign nationals to present a passport or other appropriate identity and citizenship documentation when entering the United States. In effect, the legislation required all travelers entering the United States from Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean have documents that verify their citizenship. Congress has now provided the Administration with more time by ensuring that the requirement for a passport or comparable documentation such as a passport card may not be implemented until June 2009.

The second phase of the WHTI will have the greatest impact on Michigan residents and businesses. Senators Levin and Stabenow have conveyed their concerns and those raised in Michigan to Secretary of Homeland Security Chertoff. Specifically, Senator Levin is concerned about the potential harm to trade and tourism in Michigan as well as the prohibitive cost and time it takes to acquire passports, especially for children and seniors. Senator Levin will continue to work to ensure the WHTI is implemented with the least possible negative impacts on Michigan.

Senator Levin was successful in including language in S. 4, the Improving America's Security by Implementing Unfinished Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007, to mandate that the Department of Homeland Security conduct an economic analysis of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative was included in the “Improving America’s Security Act of 2007 that passed out of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.  The amendment would require the Secretary of Homeland Security to conduct a complete cost-benefit analysis of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative before publishing a final rule.

Senator Levin also worked with Senator Coleman to include language in S. 4, the Improving America's Security by Implementing Unfinished Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007, that provides that the Department of Homeland Security must sign a memorandum of understanding with one or more states to conduct a pilot project to see whether secure driver’s licenses could be used as a form of documentation for travel between the U.S. and Canada under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative.  The amendment also provides that DHS must evaluate the pilot project and map out next steps, including an expansion if appropriate.

More information on the WHTI can be found on the State Department website.