Check your eyeballs at the border

Apparently, the U.S. government is determined to require passport or biometric ID at the border. Paranoia tightens its grip.

All the 9/11 bombers entered the U.S. directly (and legally) and only one terrorist is ever have been known to cross the border from Canada. To my knowledge, none have crossed from Mexico. So where's the threat?

And why would they expect border checks to keep out a terrorist? The number of illegal immigrants in the United States increases by about 500,000 a year. These people aren't dropping out of the sky. Does the Bush Administration really believe terrorists can't do what thousands of wetbacks do every day?

Examine passports and look deeply into peoples' eyes all they want, they won't keep a determined bad guy out. They will, however, inconvenience millions of people, damage our three countries' economies, and add to the expenses of governments and travelers alike. Such is the cost of paranoia.