New US passport rules exempt children

In a change of� plan, U.S. and Canadian citizens under the age of 16 will be permitted to cross the borders at land and sea entry points with certified copies of birth certificates and parental consent rather than passports.

The new passport rules, scheduled to take effect possibly from January 2008, will restrict movement of citizens of the two countries but are aimed in part at targetting terrorist suspects entering or leaving the country. The recent waiver for children has been introduced to facilitate movement of school trips and aid family excursions says Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff.

Longtime critic of the new law, Sen. Charles Schumer, D-New York, welcomed the move saying;� “That’s a great first step and now we’re going to have to make sure they do it for everyone over 15 as well.” Schumer plans� introduce legislation to� delay implementation of the controversial requirement until June 2009, as well as calling for an economic impact of the initiative on each border state.

Since January 23, nearly all citizens of the US, Canada, Mexico, Bermuda or the Caribbean entering the U.S. have been required to display passports. Children entering the United States by air will still be required to show passports.