Apparently Dept. of State and Homeland Security have now decided to coincide with the congressional deadline of June 1,2009, for requiring the presentation of a US passport for border crossings by land in Mexico and Canada.  I have received boatloads of inquiries since my last blog entry on the same and note the the State Dept. latest update fails to mention the earlier June 1 2008 deadline.  IT WAS THERE BEFORE.  It is not now.  But the 2009, had always been there and short of congressional action will remain the same.

HOWEVER, as of February 1, 2008, you will need EITHER a USA passport OR  government issued ID AND a copy of your birth certificate.  I use the term "copy" with caution as I know of travelers who insist that it must be THE birth certificate itself.  I do not agree.  A certified copy is supposed to be acceptable. And others have reported that they have used a basic photocopy.  I think logic dictates that a photocopy as sufficient, since the intention of these requirements is to verify that the presenter is, in fact, a USA citizen.  Certainly between a government issued photo id, AND even a photocopied birth certificate, the reviewer can cross-match enough information to verify this fact. 

But safe harbor would suggest that you go get a certified copy or two or three, and present the same.  My concern is that if  a bad guy gets your birth certificate and social security number he/she can go to DMV and become YOU!  So backup is to have a certified copy with you,but buried deep and present a photocopy.  If border guard challenges, dig out the original

BETTER YET...GET a PASSPORT!!!  for more info see...

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html