SCHUMER TO BORDER PATROL: DELAYS IN CANADIAN TRAINS HURTING UPSTATE BUSINESS - STREAMLINE INSPECTION PROCESS TO KEEP TRAINS AND BUSINESSES MOVING
In Letter To Homeland Security Secretary Napolitano, Schumer Urges Feds To Use Prescreening System to Streamline Inspection Process So Passengers Can Reach Upstate NY Quicker - Fueling Local Businesses From Clinton County All The Way Down To NYC
Schumer Pushes To Consolidate Security Inspections At Montreal Train Station, Rather Than Having Trains Make Separate, Time Consuming Stops Midway
Schumer: Trains That Help Boost Upstate's Economy Should Be Allowed To Move Full Steam Ahead
Yesterday, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer wrote a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Napolitano and Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Bersin, urging them to speed up the inspection process for trains coming into Upstate New York across the Canadian border. Currently, passenger travel on the Quebec to New York City corridor is delayed for significant periods of time as incoming trains are stopped at the border for an arduous, two hour inspection and screening process. The delays associated with crossing the border could be substantially reduced if Customs and Border Patrol established a passenger prescreening process at the Montreal train station, rather than in the middle of transit. Today, Schumer called on Customs and Border Patrol to establish a pre-trip inspection point to cut down on travel delays, and offered any necessary legislative assistance to help the agency create the inspection point.
"Trains loaded down with passengers help fuel Upstate New York businesses, and we need to be making it as convenient as possible for Canadians to visit our restaurants, shop in our stores, and continue to fuel the economy in Upstate New York," said Schumer. "Establishing a prescreening center in Montreal will make train travel faster and easier, and encourage even more Canadians to visit New York. It's absolutely critical that Border Patrol establishes a safe, efficient, and secure screening process at the Montreal station as quickly as possible to alleviate this burden that is putting a cramp on local businesses, and I'm going to do everything I can to get it up and running."
Schumer, who serves as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Immigration, Refugees, and Border Security, notes that the strength of the Canadian economy and current exchange rate makes it essential that the federal government move quickly to speed up train travel between the two nations. Eliminating delays would help promote cross-border growth and boost businesses from the North Country through New York's Tech Valley, all the way down to New York City. He also notes that Customs and Border Patrol has established an analogous screening center in Vancouver, that has helped speed up train travel in the Northwest, leading to increased economic activity throughout the region.
The text of Senator Schumer's letter to Secretary Napolitano appears below:
April 14, 2011
Secretary Janet Napolitano
Department of Homeland Security
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Washington, DC 20528
Alan D. Bersin
Commissioner
United States Customs and Border Protection
1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20528
Dear Secretary Napolitano and Commissioner Bersin,
As Chairman of the Subcommittee on Immigration, Refugees and Border Security, I am responsible for directing the Senate's oversight of the Department of Homeland Security's efforts to secure our borders and ports of entry while, at the same time, promoting trade, travel, and traffic that is essential to America's economy.
It is in this regard that I write to address delays in train travel between Canada and the United States. Specifically, between the Quebec-New York corridor, travel is delayed for great periods because incoming trains to the United States are stopped at our border for up to two hours to complete the clearance and screening process for passengers on board. Consequently, these delays result in impediments to cross border train travel that cost our businesses much needed revenue from Canadian travelers.
There is, however, a solution to this problem. Just as DHS and CBP have done in the Vancouver/Blaine international border, DHS and CBP should establish a pre-screening/pre-clearance process at the Montreal train station. Given that there is only 1 train per day that leaves Montreal for New York, and that the same customs agents who perform the screening at the border are only 20 minutes away from the Montreal train station, there should be no reason that pre-screening/pre-clearance could not be done at the train station. Similar pre-clearance is also already done for incoming air traffic to the United States, adding yet another justification for this necessary change.
With the strength of the Canadian economy and the current exchange rate--which facilitates Canadian consumer and tourism spending and investment in the United States--it is crucial that we do all that we can to ensure that lawful cross-border train traffic can move through our ports of entry as quickly as possible so as to not create a chilling effect over vital cross-border tourism and commerce.
I believe that your agency has all of the necessary authority to address this problem, but if there is any assistance you need from Congress in this regard, I stand ready to help with any legislation necessary to further this objective. I thank you for your attention to this important matter, and look forward to working with you to assist you in your mission of protecting America while promoting travel, trade, and commerce.
Sincerely,
Charles E. Schumer
Chairman
Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security and Refugees