Haudenosaunee News Release

April 27, 2009

BORDER CROSSING

On January 1, 2009, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) instituted a new “informed compliance” policy. This policy gives U.S. border agents new instructions about informing travelers about the border crossing rules that will go into effect June 1, 2009. Our current Red Cards will still be reconized until at least June 1. If you or anyone you know is told by a CBP agent that your Red Card is not acceptable for passage into the US by land or sea, please take the name of the agent and contact Cherri Morris of CBP Headquarters at 202-344-3325.

CARD DESIGN

In March, we finalized a contract with Siemens Enterprises to design our card system and manufacture our cards. Since then, the HDC has worked with Siemens and representatives from each Nation to begin the process of building our system. While we have not finalized the card design, we have specified that the cards will be available in the languages of each Nation and will feature Haudenosuanee icons like the Hiawatha Belt and the Confederacy Seal. The cards will contain a RFID chip and state-of-the-art security features that meet ICAO 9303 standards. The chip is readable from 25 feet but will not contain any personal information. Instead, it will contain a unique algorithm that corresponds to a database file where the information on the card is stored electronically and protected by high-level securinty firewalls. Also, the chip will not contain any type of GPS tracking device.

APPLICATION PROCESS

We are currently designing the application process and will soon have five application offices throughout our territies as well as mobile application stations for citizens who have difficultty reaching these offices. Offices will be at Akwesasne, Tonawanda, Onondaga, Six Nations Reserve, and Oneida (near Southwold, ON). Haudenosunee citizens will be asked to present various forms of documentation as a part of the application process and can expect to receive their card approximately one month after the application is approved by their Chiefs and securely forwarded to the manufacturer.

MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT (MOA) WITH THE UNITED STATES

As we build our card system, we are also working closely with CBP to finalize a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) that ensures our new cards will be recognized for entry into the United States. We have made great progress in these negotiations, particularly on issues like making sure that our citizens north of the border as well as south are included and clairfying that our cards will feature a declaration of Haudenosuanee citizenship, not US or Canadian citizenship. However we still have some important issues to resolve, and are working to do so as quucikly as possible. In addition to regular communications with CBP officials in Washington, we have spoken to Presient Obama’s top laywer about our border crossing issues and are scheduling followup meetings with the White House.

JUNE 1, 2009 DEADLINE

Because there is no formal extension of the June 1 deadline, we still consider it a real working deadline. However, CBP recognizes that our new cards will not be distributed to all Haudenosaunee citizens by June 1, partly because CBP requires 4-6 months of testing before the cards come online. The HDC has made it clear to CBP that the US will need to continue to recognize our existing Red Cards after June 1 until our new cards are fully functional and distributed to our people. CBP has acknowledged the need for continued recogntion of Red Cards and is working to finalalize its official policy on this matter.

If you have any qesutions or comments please contact your respective nation Council of Chiefs, Clanmothers, and Faithkeepers.