[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 67 (Wednesday, April 25, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Page S5100]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. DOMENICI (for himself and Mr. Bingaman):
  S. 1216. A bill to allow certain nationals of Mexico entering the 
State of New Mexico on a temporary basis to travel up to 100 miles from 
the international border between the State of New Mexico and Mexico, 
and for other purposes; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
  Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I rise today with Senator Bingaman to 
introduce a bill of importance to the economic development of our 
Southwest border States, the Laser Visa Extension Act of 2007.
  The United States and Mexico have had special travel rules for 
Mexican nationals who visit our country for short periods of time since 
1953. These visitors can come into our country with a document known as 
a ``laser visa'' or ``border crossing card'', which is an alternative 
to a passport and must be obtained from the U.S. government. In the 
1990s, the rule was that anyone who held such a document could travel 
up to 25 miles from the Mexico/U.S. border.
  In 1999, Arizona and the Border Trade Alliance mounted a successful 
campaign to extend the mileage limit in Arizona to 75 miles because 
there is no large town within 25 miles of the Arizona/Mexico border, so 
Arizona wasn't getting the economic benefits of these travelers.
  Similarly, there is no large town within 25 miles of the New Mexico/
Mexico border, so my constituents do not get the economic benefits of 
laser visa travelers. This disparity needs to be corrected. Moreover, 
all four Southwest border States should see the same benefits of laser 
visa travelers.
  Therefore, the bill I am introducing today extends the distance laser 
visa holders can travel into the United States to 100 miles, regardless 
of which State they are in. Such an extension will allow more towns in 
all four of our Southwest border States to reap the economic benefits 
of short-term visitors to our country who hold a travel document issued 
by our Federal Government.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                                S. 1216

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Laser Visa Extension Act of 
     2007''.

     SEC. 2. TRAVEL PRIVILEGES FOR CERTAIN TEMPORARY VISITORS FROM 
                   MEXICO.

       (a) In General.--Except as provided in subsection (b), the 
     Secretary of Homeland Security shall permit a national of 
     Mexico to travel up to 100 miles from the international 
     border between Mexico and the State of New Mexico if such 
     national--
       (1) possesses a valid machine-readable biometric border 
     crossing identification card issued by a consular officer of 
     the Department of State;
       (2) enters the State of New Mexico through a port of entry 
     where such card is processed using a machine reader;
       (3) has successfully completed any background check 
     required by the Secretary for such travel; and
       (4) is admitted into the United States as a nonimmigrant 
     under section 101(a)(15)(B) of the Immigration and 
     Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(B)).
       (b) Exception.--On a case-by-case basis, the Secretary of 
     Homeland Security may limit the travel of a national of 
     Mexico who meets the requirements of paragraphs (1) through 
     (4) of subsection (a) to a distance of less than 100 miles 
     from the international border between Mexico and the State of 
     New Mexico if the Secretary determines that the national was 
     previously admitted into the United States as a nonimmigrant 
     and violated the terms and conditions of the national's 
     nonimmigrant status.
                                 ______