U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents at Massena Port of Entry in New York are now able to scan two-dimensional barcodes from state- and provincial-issued driver’s licenses under a new pilot program.
Previously, CBP agents were unable to scan non-enhanced driver’s licenses and other identification documentation that lacked radio frequency identification or machine-readable zones.
“Presenting a state or provincial driver’s license with a tribal identification card will increase security at the border and allow officers to more efficiently and expeditiously process Native Americans,” Port Director Robert Dwyer said. “This is a win-win for the community of Akwesasne and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Travelers experience a faster inspection, and CBP has the ability to scan the information for increased accuracy.”
Travelers from the Akwesasne community in northern New York regularly present tribal identification cards at the Massena Port of Entry that are not machine-readable, which has compounded the issue for CBP agents there.