Opinion - Our View

POSTED: Saturday, Sep. 05, 2009

Border must be balance of security and economy

We are now nearly eight years past the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

The most noticeable difference in Whatcom County life these days is a much tighter border between our community and British Columbia.

The federal government has invested millions in improving the border, with the largest project - the reconfiguration and expansion of the Peace Arch crossing into Blaine still underway. We applaud that project because, in the long run, it will increase the ease with which traffic can move back and forth between the county and B.C. That's a good thing for our community, where so much of our economy is tied to business and trade with Canada and Canadians. It's important that our government make it as easy as possible for that economic trade to continue.

The government has also spent millions increasing the defense of the border, with more border agents hired, expanded operations for U.S. Coast Guard, and creation of a U.S. Customs and Border Protection air command at Bellingham International Airport, which gives border agents an aerial viewpoint from which to watch the border.

The result of all of this increased manpower and equipment has been an increase in arrests for drug smuggling - a serious problem for our community, which serves as a conduit for drugs in and out of B.C.

Those outcomes are mostly positive for Whatcom County and its residents.

But we have to wonder if officials, still concerned about preventing another 9/11, will realize when they have gone too far. For example, people who cross the border into the United States now must have a passport, an enhanced driver's license or some other form of increased identification to cross the border. Even a birth certificate, which was OK last year, no longer is enough.

We have yet to see any evidence that the tough documentation requirements are leading to even one more arrest of a smuggler or would-be terrorist. On the other hand, there is ample evidence that the number of people crossing the border has decreased, which is adding to the economic hardship in our community already in place thanks to the national recession.

It's important to note that all of the terrorists involved in the hijackings on 9/11 had passports.

Janet Napolitano, secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, said during a recent visit she is well aware of the importance of cross-border trade. An estimated $2 million worth of goods cross the U.S.-Canada border every minute.

We congratulate our border workers for doing such a good job keeping us safe. Their work is important to the community and nation. We just hope that in pushing for safety, the government doesn't choke off the wonderful economic and social relationships our community has always enjoyed with our neighbors to the north.