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US-Canada Smart Border
Declaration
(30 Point
Action Plan to Create a Secure and Smart Border)
December 12, 2001
THE SECURE FLOW OF PEOPLE
1) Biometric Identifiers
Jointly develop on an urgent basis common biometric identifiers in
documentation such as permanent resident cards, NEXUS, and other travel
documents to ensure greater security.
2) Permanent Resident Cards
Develop and deploy a secure card for permanent residents which includes a
biometric identifier.
3) Single Alternative Inspection System
Resume NEXUS pilot project, with appropriate security measures, for two-way
movement of pre-approved travelers at Sarnia-Port Huron, complete pilot
project evaluation and expand a single program to other areas along the land
border. Discuss expansion to air travel.
4) Refugee/Asylum Processing
Review refugee/asylum practices and procedures to ensure that applicants are
thoroughly screened for security risks and take necessary steps to share
information on refugee and asylum claimants.
5) Managing of Refugee/Asylum Claims
Negotiate a safe third-country agreement to enhance the managing of refugee
claims.
6) Visa Policy Coordination
Initiate joint review of respective visa waiver lists and share look-out lists
at visa issuing offices.
7) Air Pre-clearance
Finalize plans/authority necessary to implement the Pre-clearance Agreement
signed in January 2001. Resume intransit pre-clearance at Vancouver and expand
to other airports per Annex I of the Agreement.
8) Advance Passenger Information / Passenger Name Record
Share Advance Passenger Information and agreed-to Passenger Name Records on
flights between Canada and the United States, including in-transit flights.
Explore means to identify risks posed by passengers on international flights
arriving in each other's territory.
9) Joint Passenger Analysis Units
Establish joint units at key international airports in Canada and the United
States.
10) Ferry Terminals
Review customs and immigration presence and practices at international ferry
terminals.
11) Compatible Immigration Databases
Develop jointly an automated database, such as Canada's Support System for
Intelligence, as a platform for information exchange, and enhance sharing of
intelligence and trend analysis.
12) Immigration Officers Overseas
Increase number of Canadian and US immigration officers at airports overseas
and enhance joint training of airline personnel.
13) International Cooperation
Undertake technical assistance to source and transit countries.
THE SECURE FLOW OF GOODS
14) Harmonized Commercial Processing
Establish complementary systems for commercial processing, including
audit-based programs and partnerships with industry to increase security.
Explore the merits of a common program.
15) Clearance Away from the Border
Develop an integrated approach to improve security and facilitate trade
through away-from-the-border processing for truck/rail cargo (and crews),
including inland pre-clearance/post-clearance, international zones and
pre-processing centers at the border, and maritime port intransit
pre-clearance.
16) Joint Facilities
Establish criteria, under current legislation and regulations, for the
creation of small, remote joint border facilities. Examine the legal and
operational issues associated with the establishment of international zones
and joint facilities, including armed protection or the arming of law
enforcement officers in such zones and facilities.
17) Customs Data
Sign the Agreement on Sharing Data Related to Customs Fraud, exchange agreed
upon customs data pursuant to NAFTA, and discuss what additional commercial
and trade data should be shared for national security purposes.
18) Intransit Container Targeting at Seaports
Jointly target marine intransit containers arriving in Canada and the United
States by exchanging information and analysts. Work in partnership with the
industry to develop advance electronic commercial manifest data for marine
containers arriving from overseas.
SECURE INFRASTRUCTURE
19) Infrastructure Improvements
Work to secure resources for joint and coordinated physical and technological
improvements to key border points and trade corridors aimed at overcoming
traffic management and growth challenges, including dedicated lanes and border
modeling exercises.
20) Intelligent Transportation Systems
Deploy interoperable technologies in support of other initiatives to
facilitate the secure movement of goods and people, such as transponder
applications and electronic container seals.
21) Critical Infrastructure Protection
Conduct bi-national threat assessments on trans-border infrastructure and
identify necessary additional protection measures, and initiate assessments
for transportation networks and other critical infrastructure.
22) Aviation Security
Finalize Federal Aviation Administration-Transport Canada agreement on
comparability/equivalence of security and training standards.
COORDINATION AND INFORMATION SHARING IN THE ENFORCEMENT OF
THESE OBJECTIVES
23) Integrated Border and Marine Enforcement Teams
Expand IBET/IMET to other areas of the border and enhance communication and
coordination.
24) Joint Enforcement Coordination
Works toward ensuring comprehensive and permanent coordination of law
enforcement, anti-terrorism efforts and information sharing, such as by
strengthening the Cross-Border Crime Forum and reinvigorating Project
Northstar.
25) Integrated Intelligence
Establish joint teams to analyze and disseminate information and intelligence,
and produce threat and intelligence assessments. Initiate discussions
regarding a Canadian presence on the U.S. Foreign Terrorist Tracking Task
Force.
26) Fingerprints
Implement the Memorandum of Understanding to supply equipment and training
that will enable the RCMP to access FBI fingerprint data directly via
real-time electronic link.
27) Removal of Deportees
Address legal and operational challenges to joint removals, and coordinate
initiatives to encourage uncooperative countries to accept their nationals.
28) Counter-Terrorism Legislation
Bring into force legislation on terrorism, including measures for the
designation of terrorist organizations.
29) Freezing of Terrorist Assets
Exchange advance information on designated individuals and organizations in a
timely manner.
30) Joint Training and Exercises
Increase dialogue and commitment for the training and exercise programs needed
to implement the joint response to terrorism guidelines. Joint
counter-terrorism training and exercises are essential to building and
sustaining effective efforts to combat terrorism and to build public
confidence.
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