U.S. May Ease Some Border Crossing Rules

The Bush administration is facing a rebellion by northern border-state lawmakers who want to push back deadlines requiring passports or tamperproof ID cards from all who enter the United States.

In a bow to lawmakers whose states neighbor Canada, the Homeland Security Department is considering easing some of the rules for infrequent border crossers. But many in Congress, backed by Canadians, say the compromise isn´t enough, and are pushing to delay the restrictions, set to take effect in 2008, by 18 months.

The rules, as they stand now, are “a train wreck on the horizon,” said Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vermont. He and Rep. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, are looking to file legislation that would delay border requirements until July 2009.

That legislation could come as early as this week as part of a massive spending bill the Senate is considering, Leahy spokesman David Carle said Wednesday. Stevens is chairman of the Appropriations Committee.