SARNIA, Ont. (Nov. 16, 2004) — Despite predictions the start of a new U.S. immigrant status program would add to border tie ups and delays, yesterday’s launch of US-VISIT was said to have run smoothly, according to local reports.

As part of the anti-terrorism U.S.-VISIT program, any U.S.-bound landed immigrant, or any other non-Canadian citizen who requires a temporary VISA to enter the U.S. for business or pleasure, will now have to undergo biometric digital photographs when they cross the border, as well as finger scans at a secondary inspection centre on subsequent visits.

The information is stored and cross-referenced with an FBI databases to determine if visitors might be wanted for immigration issues, or are on a list of suspected terrorist links.

The Blue Water Bridge in Sarnia, Ont. and Port Huron, Mich. is among three land-border crossings chosen to test the program for any glitches beginning yesterday. The other sites are Laredo, Texas and Douglas, Ariz. The program, which has already been in force at air and seaports since January ’04, will be extended to 17 other land ports by Dec. 31, 2004, and all other ports of entry by Dec. 31, 2005.

About 100 out of the 5,500 daily car and truck drivers that cross the Blue Water Bridge are expected to be subjected to the process.

Both Blue Water Bridge Authority and U.S. Customs officials told news agencies that the first day of implementation appeared to have little effect on traffic as was previously feared.

As Today’s Trucking reported last week, some groups have assailed the program as racist. The deputy director of U.S. Homeland Security found himself rebutting such suggestions from the Canadian Race Relations Foundation as well as some Canadian reporters when he was in Toronto recently to explain the system to the media.

Robert Mocny pointed out that the program is very transparent, targeting individuals based on the fact they are non-citizens, not the colour of their skin or places of origin. Furthermore, anyone who doesn’t want to be fingerprinted or photographed could simply withdraw their request to enter the U.S. and return home.

“We want to know who’s knocking on our door,” Mocny told reporters at the time. “When you know who the individual is, you’re more than happy to welcome them into your home.”

Mocny told Today’s Trucking that such drivers are already stopped to have their credentials checked at a secondary inspection station. The only difference, he insisted, is they will have to have their fingerprints scanned, which he says would only take 15 to 30 seconds to process.

Meanwhile, the Canadian federal government has no plans to follow the lead of the U.S. with its own biometric program for landed immigrants from that country when they visit Canada.

Immigration Minister Judy Sgro said the U.S. is entitled to do whatever it feels is necessary for its security, but Canada has no plans to follow with a similar program at this time.

— with files from Associated Press