No Passport? Border Crossers Have A Legal Alternative

EL PASO — Federal officials are about to enter their second full week checking for new document requirements at international ports-of-entry.

An illegal alternative to get across the international boundarywould be tosimply walk around unfenced sections of the Rio Grande, but federal officials say there’s no evidence that the new regulations are encouraging people to do so.

Customs and Border Protection spokesman Roger Maier said for legal crossers, “the compliance rates are high for the new passport policy. The message got out and they’re showing up with the proper documentation.”

Maier says there’s a less-publicized document that a person can use to cross the border quickly and legally – it’s a dedicated commuter lane pass.

They can be used at any port of entry in Canada or Mexico in lieu of a passport, he said, and can be used at ports-of-entry without commuter lanes.

“It’ll use the same technology used by the passport readers and the pass-card readers,” Maier said.

For an application for a DCL card, click on the link provided.