October 30, 2008
Dunseith, N.D. - U.S. citizens traveling to the International Peace Garden from within the United States will not be required to present a Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative compliant document when exiting the park southbound, upon full WHTI implementation on June 1, 2009.

U.S. citizens traveling south upon exit from the Peace Garden who satisfactorily establish to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer that they entered the Peace Garden from the United States, will not be required to present a WHTI-compliant document. While WHTI-compliant documents will not be required of U.S. citizen visitors to the Peace Garden, the documents are highly recommended for all travelers, as they greatly facilitate inspection and reduce wait times at the border. It is recommended that U.S. citizen visitors to the Peace Garden that do not have a WHTI-compliant document bring a birth certificate or other proof of citizenship, along with photo-identification.

All non-U.S. citizens departing south from the Peace Garden will be considered applicants for admission to the United States and will be required to present a WHTI-compliant document (i.e. passport, NEXUS/FAST card, Enhanced Driver's License, U.S. Permanent Resident Card).

WHTI is a joint Department of State and Department of Homeland Security plan that implements a 9/11 Commission recommendation to establish secure document requirements for travelers entering the United States who were previously exempt, including citizens of the United States, Canada and Bermuda. Upon full implementation on June 1, 2009, travelers will need to present an approved document that denotes both identity and citizenship when entering the United States by land or sea.
In addition to a passport, there are several other documents that CBP will accept at land and sea ports of entry from U.S. and Canadian citizens coming from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda or the Caribbean. These include the new U.S. Passport Card (U.S. citizens), new state/province-issued Enhanced Driver's Licenses, and the three CBP trusted traveler program cards (NEXUS/SENTRI/FAST). Additional information on WHTI can be found at the Get You Home website. ( GetYouHome.gov )

The International Peace Garden was established in 1932 and was designed to symbolize friendship between the United States and Canada. The gardens are located on the 49th Parallel, between the ports of Dunseith, North Dakota and Boissevain, Manitoba. Reflecting pools and dazzling colorful floral displays of over 150,000 flowers splash across the grounds of the Formal Gardens and terraced walkways. The park is open year round but experiences the highest traffic volume in the summer. In past years, the International Peace Garden has received approximately 150,000 visitors annually.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.