El Diario also reported that high-ranking members of the PAN city government where seen vacating their offices on the night of October 8, 2001. Elizondo's government and term ends on October 10. El Diario, October 9, 2001. City officials in both countries fear traffic flow problems on October 1 when Mexican drivers may arrive at US points of entry only to be told they can no longer enter the US on their old documents. Since then tighter security measures at US ports of entry have meant waits of up to two to three hours despite a drop in crossing traffic.
Many consumers appear to be unwilling to put up with such waits.
However, some US politicians are still pressing for an extension, according to El Diario. El Diario also reports that in the state of Chihuahua there over 500,000 micas that have not been replaced with laser visas. The new laser visas are valid for ten years and allow people to travel up to 40 kilometers into the US for periods of up to three days. El Diario, October 1, 2001. Article by Lorena Figueroa.