Last week, during a meeting at work, someone made a comment about new travel I.D. requirements in the United States. I really didn’t pay much attention to it.  I heard something about passports, something about not getting in… I just kinda mentally noted it but didn’t research it.

Turns out I apparently missed this new restriction: New federal rules took effect Monday requiring anyone entering the country by land or sea — including U.S. citizens — to show a passport or other approved document.

I have mixed feelings out this.

Part of me things it only makes sense to have I.D. Requirements in order to enter a country (any country).  As I am not a frequent international traveler, maybe someone can fill me in on this – don’t travelers need to show passports in order to enter a country?  Ever time I’ve ever visited a foreign country that was the case.

Passports are used to document international travel, I mean, isn’t that the point? Should anyone need to show this documentation in order to travel from country to country? Isn’t it about time the U.S. joined the rest of the world?

Here is my big issue with the new law:

Another reason the lines may get shorter: The nation’s busiest border crossings have received new equipment that reads small chips embedded in passport cards, enhanced driver’s licenses and trusted traveler cards as people pull into an inspection booth.

The chips, which also are in passports issued since August 2007, contain a unique identification number that links with a database. Once a chip is read, customs officers have on their computer screen everything they need to know about a traveler.

While data is being collected by our credit card companies, utility providers we use and even Google, I begin to get very apprehensive when the government starts to collect this data.  Yes, the data can be mined from any source with – and sometimes without – a search warrant, it is just a matter of time before the government starts to mine data in the name of security.

We are slowly witnessing the erosion of our freedom and it will only get worse as time goes on.

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