The Department of State (DOS) has received a permit application authorizing the construction, operation and maintenance of an international toll bridge in the Laredo, TX area.  The permit is for a new crossing of the Rio Grande 9.2 miles downstream from the exiting Gateway to the Americas Bridge.

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Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has confirmed that David Hudak, a Canadian counterterrorism expert, was in custody and is awaiting his deportation hearing.  An agency spokesman said he violated the terms of his visitor’s visa by working for his own US company.

Hudak was previously cleared of federal charges regarding his Roswell training programs.  He was accused of four counts of exporting defense services or training without a license, two counts of using explosives during the commission of a felony, one count of conspiracy to export training, one count of being an alien in possession of a firearm and one count of possessing an unregistered destructive device. 

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Canadian Solicitor General Wayne Easter and US Attorney General John Ashcroft announced the creation of two more Integrated Border Enforcement Teams (IBETs) to improve security for the Canada-US border.  A Superior Region IBET will cover the Ontario, Michigan and Minnesota borders while an Okanagan Region IBET will cover British Columbia and Washington State.

IBETs are multi-agency teams that combine US and Canadian law enforcement, immigration and customs officials and local, state and provincial enforcement agencies.  These teams are strategically located along the Canada-US border to ensure that it remains open to trade and travel, but secure against criminals or terrorists attempting to cross the border.

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In December 1981, according to a US Executive Order, all US passports were declared invalid for travel to, in or through Libya unless they were specially validated for such travel.  This restriction has been renewed each year due to the relations between the US and Libya and the possibility of hostile actions against Americans in Libya.  As of November 24, 2003, the Secretary of State has renewed this travel restriction.

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Hawaii State Governor Linda Lingle has declared the need for a special “Hawaii-only” visa exemption to new, stricter visa requirements.  Lingle stated that her office receives daily complaints or requests for help from business and educational travelers who are having problems obtaining visas due to the detailed security and background checks on foreigners conducted by immigration officials.

Lingle said she plans to lobby for a special Hawaii-only visa.  The proposed program will allow people to come to Hawaii from other countries even if they are not allowed to continue on to other parts pf the US.  Lingle said she will bring up the request with Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge when she meets with him in Washington, DC on December 10.