The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) planned to announce two weeks ago that some Mexicans would not be required to be fingerprinted or photographed to enter the country.  But as concerns arose within the administration, the announcement was stopped just hours after the speech was released to the media.

While the initiative was in the text of the testimony that DHS Undersecretary Asa Hutchinson planned to deliver to the House Government Reform Committee, he did not mention the topic to the panel.  Hutchinson instead said that the matter was under consideration and he would prefer to decrease security checks for some Mexican nationals.

According to reports, administration officials determined that security issues were not resolved regarding the change, thus causing Hutchinson to hold off on the announcement.  Following the hearing, Hutchinson did reiterate the same idea that the DHS has been claiming for some time: that the exemption is a proposal that would probably be necessary.

The possible plan would allow Mexicans with laser visas to come to US without being fingerprinted or photographed, as long as they stay no longer than three days and remain within 25 miles of the border.

The issue comes in response to concern from Mexican President Vicente Fox, who was not happy that Mexicans are required to be photographed and fingerprinted under US-VISIT while Canadians are not be required to do so.  President Fox arrived at President Bush’s Texas ranch for a scheduled visit the day after the announcement should have been made.

Officials on both sides of the border expressed concern over how US-VISIT requirements would affect local economies, with long lines and delays preventing visitors from making the trip.  The new measure hopes to prevent a decline in flow of visitors.