FRONT PAGE

NEXUS refusals inspire locals to call for changes

By Meg Olson

A new website is under construction to try to fix what a group of local residents sees as flaws in the NEXUS program.

“Our government is not prepared to put the staff in place to handle the volume at the border, and the only other option is to make NEXUS really work for the people who cross the border the most,” said Pat Capozzi, founder of FixNEXUS.org.

FixNEXUS.org is looking to add members to its mailing list and collect NEXUS “horror stories” in an attempt to get the House Homeland Security Committee to schedule a hearing on problems that have made NEXUS inconvenient or unavailable to many applicants. The hearing was first requested by U.S. Representative Rick Larsen in November 2007.

Capozzi said he was struck by the arbitrary and inconsistent application of the NEXUS “zero-tolerance” policy when he recently had his own NEXUS card taken. The basis for the revocation, he said, was an incident as a juvenile in 1969 that he had thought was cleared up when he first applied for, and was granted, NEXUS membership.

“The thing is, the zero-tolerance is a lie to hide behind,” he said. “They do make exceptions, and if there was a responsive person in Vermont to look at things rationally it would work.” Processing for all trusted-traveler programs has been centralized in Williston, Vermont. At a recent voters association meeting on border issues a number of audience members said they had written to that office. None had received a response.

From elderly residents needing medical care in Bellingham to school children and their parents, Point Roberts residents are more reliant on the NEXUS program than casual users, Capozzi said. “When you use it every day and you lose it changes your life,” he said. With that in mind, he said, “it’s irresponsible for the government not to recognize it is an issue for this community. A critical issue.”

Capozzi thinks solutions could include fines for minor violations, such as an orange in the car, rather than membership revocation, which would allow more regular crossers to maintain their NEXUS memberships in the face of repeated daily crossings. “Ask anyone in America what’s the job at the border? Prevent terrorism. How do you get that? Get frequent users out of the regular lane.”