In a move to help families and school groups the US administration announced that children will be exempt from new rules that will require travelers to show passports when entering the United States at land or sea borders.
Now children aged 15 and below need to have just certified copies of their birth certificates to cross the borders at land and sea entry points. Children aged 16 through 18 traveling with school, religious, cultural or athletic groups and under adult supervision will be allowed to travel with only their birth certificates. However, children coming by planes will be required to show passports.
The rules were mandated by Congress in 2004 as a response to the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and the recommendations by the Sept. 11 commission that border security be tightened. This change comes due to concerns of travel and commerce fallout because of the necessity of passports.
However you kids ou there need not think this is cool for you, since the rule works only for children traveling across the border under adult supervision and with parental consent.
Source: CNN
