New U.S. regulations snag Canada travelers

LYLETON, Manitoba, Jan. 24 (UPI) -- New U.S. government regulations require passports for Canadians to enter the United States have travelers in a bind over their birth certificates.

Many residents, dubbed "border babies," were born in the United States because they were closer to an American hospital, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. reported.

For example, Mallo Clark and his siblings were born in Westhope, N.D., although they live in Lyleton, Manitoba, near the U.S. border. Therefore they have U.S. birth certificates.

Other Canadians are affected by an obscure law in effect between 1947 and 1977, providing that people who lived outside the country on their 24th birthday and neglected to sign a particular form would automatically lose citizenship. Their chance to become a citizen of their own country has expired, the CBC said.

The revelations are causing problems with pensions too, because a birth certificate is required and citizenship must be established to get a Canadian pension.

Canadian Citizenship and Immigration Minister Diane Finley said the situation was unfair and told the CBC the government would fast-track citizenship for those affected.