Congressman Lamar Smith (R-Texas), Chairman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration and Claims, supports legislation that would slow down border crossings at the U.S.-Canada border. This legislation is section 210 of the 1996 immigration law changes, and it is supposed to take effect on September 30, 1998. It would require individuals crossing the border to show documentation each time they enter or leave the U.S. Critics fear the provision would slow crossing from about 30 seconds to about two minutes.

Smith supports the rule because he believes it would lessen the risk of terrorists entering the U.S. from Canada. However, his critics believe that Smith supports section 210, because its primary purpose is to cut down on illegal immigration across the U.S.-Mexico border, which affects his constituency.

Recently, Smith visited the Canadian border so that other U.S. Congressman, Members of Parliament and business leaders could persuade and show him that the provision should be repealed. After his visit, Smith agreed that the provision's effective date should be pushed back by one year to October 1, 1999 to ensure that it won't hurt international trade.

Jack Quinn (R-New York) said that Smith had agreed to hold hearings in June at which members of the western New York delegation to Congress would present alternative technological approaches to securing the U.S.-Canada border crossing.