The U.S. Chamber of Commerce said March 4 that tight security deadlines outlined by the Department of Homeland Security for land points of entry could lead to shortcuts that could undermine safety and commerce.

“With so much at stake in our border traffic systems, we can’t afford to become guinea pigs during this change,” said Randel Johnson, chamber vice president of labor, immigration and employee benefits. “The government must demonstrate a workable system that ensures the flow of people and goods at our borders before the expansion is implemented.”

Congressional deadlines require an entry/exit system be in place at the 50 busiest land border crossings by the end of 2004, with the remainder of land crossings completed by the end of 2005.

Trade between the United States, Mexico and Canada at land crossings totals more than $540 billion a year.  With more than 300 million individual crossings, monitoring should be comprehensive, but not impede legitimate commerce and business, according to the chamber.