Detroit -- The United States and Canada today signed an agreement that allows both countries to patrol each other's waters and to pursue cross-border criminals into each country's territory.
The "Shiprider Agreement" allows the U.S. Coast Guard and Royal Canadian Mounted Police to cross-train, share resources and personnel, and use each other's vessels in waters that include the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence Seaway.
According to U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano and Canadian Minister of Public Safety Peter Van Loan, the agreement will help ensure that criminal organizations no longer exploit the shared border because of the inherent jurisdictional complications that come with cross-border policing.
Advertisement
"We are working together as friends and allies," Napolitano said at the press conference, which was held at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection facility at the Ambassador Bridge.
"We see our common border as a common responsibility. It's a partnership that at the same time respects the sovereignty of both nations."
According to Van Loan, the Shiprider program was first tested for about two months in 2007.
"The results were very encouraging," Van Loan said. "During that time period, we were able to seize 1.4 million cigarettes and 215 kilos of marijuana. I understand that the look of surprise on the criminals' faces when they were pursued across the border was really something to behold."
Napolitano and Van Loan also said the U.S. and Canada were working together to make sure that the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) goes into effect "smoothly" when it is enacted on Monday. Under WHTI, any American or Canadian leaving or re-entering the U.S. is required to have proper documentation of citizenship, including a valid passport, Enhanced Driver's License (EDL), passport card or trusted traveler card such as NEXUS, SENTRI or FAST.
A driver's license and a certified birth certificate are no longer valid for entry/re-entry into the U.S.
http://www.detnews.com/article/20090526/METRO/905260401/1409/METRO
No comments:
Post a Comment