C.B.P. News Release

CBP and Idaho's Kootenai Tribe Sign Memorandum of Agreement to Develop Enhanced Tribal Card

(Tuesday, March 03, 2009)

Washington – U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho signed today the first Memorandum of Agreement for the development of an Enhanced Tribal Card.

Upon successful development, testing and issuance, this document will be available to members of the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho to establish their identity, tribal membership and United States or Canadian citizenship for the purposes of border crossing. The ETC is designed to be acceptable for entering the United States by land or sea under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative.

On June 1, WHTI will be implemented at land and sea ports of entry, requiring travelers – including U.S. and Canadian citizens – to present an approved travel document to enter the United States. The approved documents include a passport, a Passport Card, a NEXUS, SENTRI or FAST trusted traveler program card and a state- or province-issued enhanced driver’s license. Travelers under age 16, or anyone under age 19 traveling in a school or other official group, need to present only a birth certificate or alternative proof of citizenship.

“Enhancing the integrity of travel documents for all travelers is critical to improving both the security and efficiency of our borders,â€