Why would Homeland Security demand that we have passports to enter or leave adjacent countries?

Question

This doesn't sound right. No terrorist has ever been known to have entered Canada or Mexico with a U.S. passport or to enter the U.S. from either country with a U.S passport. How could requiring Americans to have passports to enter these countries supposedly reduce terrorist threats? Isn't it more likely the government intends to expand the war to Iran and Syria and will need an active draft to do it,hence the need to make it impossible for draft evaders to leave the country? As of next year,Americans cannot leave the U.S. without the government's knowledge and permission. In any event,how is terorrism addressed by these restrictions?

Ellis Wyat & co. can't you people read? i said U.S. citizens. I'm aware a terrorist tried to enter via Canada in dec. 1999 - but he wasn't an American. Read the question before you answer - unless you really aren't capable of understanding the difference between a U.S. citizen and a foreigner with a Yemeni passport.

Answer 1

I think you are probably right about the draft. Requiring Americans to use passports to enter Mexico or Canada means we can only leave our country with permission; in the event of a declaration of martial law those passports would be rendered useless by the flick of a switch. But the idea of a martial-law situation is far-reaching; in more practical terms,I cite the following 1) This will have no conceivable effect on any terrorist's ability to enter or leave the country,since they are not involved with U.S passports to begin with; 2) the government obviously does have a secret agenda; and 3) it will indeed require vast manpower to occupy Iran and Syria in addition to escalating our forces in iraq and Afghanistan.
I am completely shocked by the responses here. Apparently Americans have become sufficently authoritarian they attach no value whatsoever to their freedoms. The government just ups and declares that from now on you cannot leave the country without their permission - without a passport they can delete at any time - and this doesn't alarm anyone.
Incredible.

Answer 2

I guess its only fair. We require the French to have a passport to enter our country. And the Japanese require a passport to enter Canada. So really, we have just been afforded a unique privledge for the past um-teen years by not being required to have a passport. I would think the Canadians would like to know who is coming into their country as well seeing that we in the great USA allow anyone into our borders who are presently able to just float on over to Canada without a passport at this time. I am not sure how you cannot see how terrorism is NOT addressed by these restrictions. Altho a bit of an inconvenience to obtain a passport, being blown up is a lot more inconvenient in my opinion. AND, if youre a draft dodger, you better get running now while you can.

Answer 3

HOW DO YOU PROPOSE WE SCREEN FOR US CITIZENS UNLESS WE ASK FOR PASSPORTS?

You said "leave adjacent countries" right? The only way homeland security would have control is if we were leaving the adjacent country and entering the US. That's when we need the passport. Use some common sense before you type.

It's called, "common sense". Especially in light of the fact that some states are giving driver's licenses to illegal aliens. How else do you propose we screen for US citizens at the border?

Not to mention, there was a case in which suspected terrorists were caught trying to enter via the Canadian border. Another more recently where we learned that islamic terrorists were conspiring with a drug cartel in Mexico to attack a US military base by crossing the Mexican border into the US.

You are wrong on all counts.

Answer 4

It's all part of the steps the government is taking to a world government. Now it is passports (new ones have the RFID chip in them which is a tracking system with your information on it), soon (around May 2008) it will be an ID card that everyone will have to carry and eventually it will be RFID chips actually implanted into everyone. They have also started talks about the North American Union. There is the European Union, African Union and Asian Union (soon), and after that...a one world government. Terrorism is not the issue, because you can never win the war on terrorism. The issue is having the world run by a select few families and individuals. This is just step one.

Answer 5

I agree. I have wondered about the new restrictions. They obviously aren't for "national security' reasons. I hadn't thought about an active draft. But you could be right. They are desparately short of manpower in Afghanistan and could use a lot more in Iraq. So,assuming we invade Iran - well,they are going to need a draft. And I'm 20. So you've given me some food for thought.

Answer 6

Not now, but it will be next January. If I'm not mistaken......anyone leaving or entering this country from anywhere else, to include taking cruises on cruise lines, will be required to show a passport when they enter customs.

Answer 7

Whenever I fly down to Mexico from California with friends to vacation, the airport says that a passport is optional and usually I'm the only one that takes mine along because I like getting the stamp in it. If they make it mandatory to carry a passport, then those without one will be questioned since it is easy for a US citizen to have one and if someone doesn't energies can be concentrated on them since terrorists usually don't have US citizenship.

Answer 8

It is because the terrorists have not entered with U.S. passports. Also, it serves to make sure those saying they are already here legitimately really are. Yes, it is a pain, but there are other acceptable documents, or will be if Congress can get their act together.

Answer 9

This is all just stupid busywork that is designed to make stupid Americans think that Homeland Security is doing something to secure the homeland. Terrorists don't bother with all that crap. But you, as an American, are forced to sit in a line for an hour you will say to yourself "My. my, my. This is wonderful. No terrorist would ever want to sit here in this line as long as stupid me, so Homeland Security must be doing a really good job."

It's the dumb fooling the dumber.

Answer 10

Your hittin the nail on the head man. Who won the cold war? remeMber those poor soviet citizens who couldn't leave their country. If Chomsky was reborn as an American would he defect to Russia?