Getting Ridiculous
January 13, 2004

(photo from oglobo.com)

Brazil continues to check US IDs
The Brazilian Government will go on with its controversial policy of extra security checks on US citizens.

A federal judge had overturned a previous ruling in Brazil's tourism capital, Rio de Janeiro, to check all US air passengers on arrival.

But an executive order released later on Monday said the requirement would remain in place for the next 30 days while the situation is studied.

The move comes as Rio prepares for its famous carnival next month.

Tourism fears

At present all US visitors to Brazil must be photographed and fingerprinted.

The measures, which have caused long delays for travellers, are a response to similar rules recently introduced in the United States.

The Brazilian Government said that, during the 30-day period, ministers will review the effect the policy is having on the country's tourism industry.

Authorities in Rio have expressed anger at the new security checks - which they say will prevent tourists from visiting the city and boosting its economy - and want the issue resolved before the carnival begins.

US tourists spend about $250m in Rio per year and from Tuesday they will be greeted with T-shirts saying "Rio loves you" and given souvenirs and flowers as compensation for their discomfort at the airport.

BBC correspondent Steve Kingstone in Brazil says the best hope for an early truce in the passport wars is for the two countries' presidents to reach a private agreement at the Summit of the Americas, which continues in Mexico on Tuesday.

Mounting frustration

When the measures were initially introduced in Rio, incoming US flight passengers were delayed for up to nine hours while security officials ran identification checks.

"It is very frustrating to come to Brazil and spend 45 minutes in the line after long hours on the plane," said Olivia Doerhe, a 20-year-old student from Iowa.

She said it took the officials 10 minutes to take her fingerprints and photographs.

The original judge's order to check Americans was made in response to a US announcement that it would vet visitors from many countries outside of the EU for security reasons.

Brazil's Federal Public Ministry filed a complaint in a federal court over the US immigration measures, arguing its citizens were being unfairly discriminated against and urging the US to remove Brazil from its list of security threats.

The US-VISIT security system is meant to identify travellers who have violated immigration controls, have criminal records or belong to groups listed as terrorist organisations by the US.

Many saw the decision by Brazil to counteract the US security procedure with its own law as a tit-for-tat response, which has since backfired.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/americas/3391337.stm

Published: 2004/01/13 05:38:54 GMT

© BBC MMIV

Posted by Scott at 11:53 AM