Mission Statement:
To issue Tohono O’odham Nation members’ an Enhanced Tribal Card (ETC) with the intent to travel to Mexico for traditional, historic, religious, and cultural purposes.
History:
In 2008 the United States implemented a Congressional requirement called the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI). The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative requires all United States citizens and other travelers entering or re-entering the United States for land and sea border crossings present a passport or other acceptable documents that establish the bearers’ identity and citizenship. The goal of the initiative is to strengthen border security and facilitate faster entry into the United States for U.S. Citizens.
The Department of Homeland Security recognizes that the Unites States has a special relationship with Native American Tribes. This relationship allows the federal government, where appropriate, to make exceptions for Native American members of federally recognized U.S. tribes. The Department of Homeland Security also recognizes the particular impact in which new document requirements may have on Native Americans belonging to U.S. tribes who continue to cross the land borders for traditional, historic, religious, and cultural purposes.
The Tohono O’odham Nation signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection to accept an Enhanced Tribal Card (ETC) as a WHTI compliant document.
What is an Enhanced Tribal Card (ETC)?
An ETC has multiple layers of security features including a unique number assigned to each member, a machine readable zone, and is embedded with a radio frequency identification (RFID) chip only readable at border entry points by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
It is equivalent to a U.S. Passport Card but does not replace it.
Acceptable when traveling on land between the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
Approved form of identification at TSA checkpoints for domestic air travel.
The card is valid for eight years.
For more information please contact the Enhanced Tribal Card Program.
520-383-8700