The Department of Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protection agency is exploring how to fit the Transportation Worker ID card (TWIC) standards into the requirements it is developing for the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative’s (WHTI) People Access Security Service (PASS) card. TWIC relies on smart card technology (ISO 14443 standard) while the DHS is looking at long-range RFID technology. DHS will launch the WHTI program by Jan. 31, but the PASS card requirement will not be a part of the initial roll out. They expect to fully implement WHTI by the end of 2008. Also, DHS is following pilot programs testing out enhanced driver’s licenses as ID at border crossing which use long-range RFID such as Washington state and Arizona. The enhanced driver’s license could satisfy WHTI as a low-cost alternative.

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