On September 28, 2012, the Department of Homeland Security and the Canada Border Services Agency declared that a Phase I pilot of an entry/exit program will start on September 30.  The two agencies said they will start to collect biographic information between September 30, 2012 and January 31, 2013.  Also, on October 15, 2012, the agencies will begin to exchange the biographic information to start records of exit from each country.  

The agencies stated that biographic information is being collected for third-country national who are neither U.S. nor Canadian citizens. Information will also be collected about permanent residents of Canada and lawful permanent residents of the U.S.  The collection of data will occur at the following land ports:

Pacific Highway in Blaine, Washington / Pacific Highway in British Columbia
Peace Arch in Blaine, Washington / Douglas (Peace Arch) in British Columbia
Lewiston-Queenston Bridge in Lewiston, New York / Queenston-Lewiston Bridge in Ontario
Rainbow Bridge in Niagara Falls, New York / Niagara Falls Rainbow Bridge in Niagara Falls, Ontario

The United States and Canada state that the entry/exit system will help the two countries identify individuals or groups of individuals that have been in the country longer than allowed by law.  Also, the system can monitor people attached to removal orders and make sure residency requirements are fulfilled.  

The U.S. and Canada state that the sharing of personal information falls under each country’s privacy laws and regulations.  The entry/exit system is also regulated under the Beyond the Border Action Plan Joint Statement of Privacy Principles.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Deputy Commissioner David V. Aguilar states, “The sharing of entry and exit information will facilitate the legitimate flow of traffic between the U.S. and Canada while strengthening border security.  This pilot is an important step forward in the shared perimeter vision.”

Source: U.S. Customs and Border Protection