Bureaucracy Now
Cathy Young writes in Reason about dumb "advances" in visa requirements for foreign travelers to the U.S. that do little to enhance our homeland security:
For instance: In many countries, such as England, underage children currently travel abroad on their parents' passports. Now, the Department of Homeland Security has decided that every person entering the United States must have a separate passport regardless of age, starting on October 26. Travel agents in Europe are concerned that many travelers with children, unaware of the new rules, may fly to the United States only to be turned away at the border.Can anyone explain what this requirementówhich, in addition to the inconvenience, will impose extra financial costs on travelersóhas to do with fighting terrorism? Has there been a rash of cases of middle-class British couples smuggling in Al Qaeda operatives disguised as their 12-year-old children? Can we all sleep easier now that we know we're safe from terrorist toddlers? What next? Special screening for terrorist pets?
Watch out, Osama bin Yorkie!
It conjures visions of a kind of reverse "Home Alone", in which middle-class English couples, unwilling to give up their Disneyland/Knotts Berry Farm/Paramount Tour reservations, stuff their passportless brats on the next flight back to LGW and go on alone to wallow in (what they think are) the delights of the USA.
Stu "El InglÈs" Harris at August 20, 2004 7:10 AM
There's something going on with kids' passports for some reason and I think there's more to it than out and out dumbness (or I truly hope there is.)
I'm Canadian and they've put big restrictions on kids' passports and passport photos lately so I'm assuming there's a reason.
Blog Novelist at August 21, 2004 11:39 AM