Homeland Security secretary Michael Chertoff broke off talks with Canada on Wednesday over a plan to move the U.S. border inspection facility at the Peace Bridge from its current location in Buffalo, N.Y., to the Canadian side of the border.
The dispute, it turns out, was over when the U.S. could take fingerprints of Canadians who aren’t even crossing into the U.S.
Homeland Security wanted the authority to seize and take the fingerprints of people who approached the bridge but decided not to actually cross into the U.S. But Canada provides that only those charged with a crime can be fingerprinted.
“From early on in the negotiations, both parties agreed that an agreement would respect the laws of the country hosting the pre-clearance area,” Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day said in a statement. “Canada will not consider any proposal that would diminish the basic individual rights of Canadians.”
“That’s a vital authority that we’re simply not willing to surrender,” DHS spokesman Russ Knocke said.
U.S. Representative Louise Slaughter, a New York Democrat, who has championed the Shared Border Management plan as a way to relieve costly commercial traffic tie-ups, said she will turn to the White House to try and keep the idea alive. . . .
Day said the United States would not accept broader background and criminal checks as alternatives to the fingerprint requirement. . . .
At the Peace Bridge, Canada stood to gain jobs from the pre-clearance arrangement and Buffalo would have been able to reclaim a historic park near the crossing and preserve numerous houses that now will likely be demolished to expand the existing inspection plaza. — Associated Press
The Peace Bridge crossing between Buffalo and Fort Erie, Ontario, is one of the busiest across the northern border, and is served by a frequently congested three-lane bridge. Plans to expand the bridge have been in development. The big losers here, though, are going to be the people who live next to the existing border crossing and are about to have their houses taken from them via eminent domain.
Where are the government officials looking out for the basic individual rights of Americans? Oh yes, that’s right. We’re having a war on terra, and we’ve got to have your fingerprints. After all, we have to make sure you aren’t a terra-rist. It’s to keep the border secure, don’t you know. And you don’t have any rights if you’re trying to enter the country, even if you are a citizen. So shut up, bend over, and enjoy it.
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Q
Apr 27, 2007
So at the Canadian border they want to build a “peace bridge”, but at the Mexican border they want to build a giant wall reminiscent of that one from Chinese history, or was it Berlin?
no, no, that’s not racist at all…
Doc
Apr 27, 2007
Actually, Q, it’s not – we don’t have armed Canadian Army units crossing into the US and firing on law enforcement and citizens.
Rochelle
Apr 28, 2007
But it does help that the Canadians are white and “look just like us.” They also sound just like us. Makes it a lot harder to tell if they’re furrin or not.
Q
Apr 30, 2007
Exactly my point Rochelle; thank you.
Doc, you actually believe that every Mexican who comes here looking for a better life, is a gun toting gangster? C’mon man, Someone reading this board isn’t that ignorant, I don’t believe it possible.
Oh know the mexicans are coming to kill us, I mean really. are you aware, that a large part of Texas and California is land stolen from the Mexicans? now we want to build a wall, this is a step backwards, I call it “Antiprogress”.
Richard Braakman
Apr 30, 2007
Stolen from the Mexicans? I thought it was stolen from the natives…
Strangeone
May 01, 2007
Seems to me the history is always written by the victors, in this case the american Gov. They re-write history to suite their needs, to make sure that the various attrocities committed buy the struggling emigree’s ( early settlers ) were not put in such a bad light. Think of it this way…
If masses and masses of chinese people came to america and decided to carve out a section of the land for themselves, set up a Government and then proclaimed that their GOD given right to life, land and liberty cannot be undone by a bunch of savages ( modern day americans ) and then proceed to wipe out all opposition, do you think modern day americans would stand by and accept it?? or would they rise up in arms and attempt to repell the invaders…. you could say in that scenario that history would be repeating itself.
The Land claimed by the US Gov at that time was done pretty much like now. Lots of stuffy men in suits deciding issues they can’t possibly understand from a grass view as they are too busy swilling fine drink and smoking cigars and clapping each other on the back for being such fine and upstanding civilised gentlemen.
Not much changed then, not much changed now.
Q
May 03, 2007
Mexicans are natives.
NO
Jan 30, 2008
“I mean really. are you aware, that a large part of Texas and California is land stolen from the Mexicans? now we want to build a wall, this is a step backwards, I call it “Antiprogress”.
You sir, must be one real f*cking piece of shit. By the way, you’ve NEVER walked in places in LA that are now no-go areas because of VATO gang-bangers, have you?? You’re a progressive “idiot”, and the day IS coming when we will finally have “it out”.
Now F*CK OFF!