People from both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border were still walking across the border to buy a carton of cigarettes, driving back from business appointments or making other trips as usual as the new identification requirements went into effect Thurs-day.

Despite worries of long lines troubling some travelers, re-entry into the United States at the Naco Port of Entry, 3867 S. Towner Ave., was no problem for Santos Dominguez.

“It’s still pretty easy,” said Dominguez, a Bisbee resident.

Effective Thursday, U.S. and Canadian citizens 19 years and older who enter the United States at land and sea ports of entry from within the Western Hemisphere must present either a passport or the combination of a government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license, and proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate.

Children 18 and under can enter with proof of citizenship.

Like other people entering U.S. borders Thursday, Dominguez was given a notice about the new require ments.

He’s still waiting for his passport applications to be processed, but he has his birth certificate for now, he      said.

“I’ll make sure to bring it next time, but I’d rather have my passport,” Dominguez said.

Brenda Olivarez, a Naco, Sonora, resident,  said  she  got  her  passport last fall in anticipation of the new requirements.

She crosses the border often to take her children to school and pick them up.

Separating traffic between those with their passports and those without could help speed processing at the port of entry, Olivarez said.

Jose Antonio Vindiola said he was told to renew his “green card,” or permanent resident card, upon reaching the port of entry.

“I’m here every other day,” he said.

The Tucson resident often makes trips to Cananea, Sonora, for business and expects the changes to be easy.

People crossing from Agua Prieta, Sonora, to Douglas also did not experience any problems, including one man who did not have proof of citizenship with him.

Dan Goodman, of Columbus, Ohio, who is visiting family in the area, said he thought the new rule went into effect today instead of Thursday.

He did not have his birth certificate with him when he crossed, but the officer at the port of entry did not give him much trouble.

“I said, ‘I didn’t bring  it,’ ” Goodman said.

“He asked where I was from, banged on a computer for a second and said,        ‘OK.’ ”

Don Aiton, mayor of Tombstone, who was traveling with Goodman, said he also thought the new rule was effective today and not Thursday.

“I just happened to have my passport with me,” Aiton said.

Meanwhile, John Collins, who lives part time in Douglas and passes through the port of entry on a regular basis, said he was aware of the new rules, and he now carries his passport.

“I just made sure I put it in my pocket when I come across,” he said. “I have been bringing it for the last six months just to be in the habit.”

Susan Thomason, of Bisbee, also knew about the new rule and she came prepared.

She does not have a passport, so she brought her birth certificate and her driver’s license.

“I just gave them my driver’s license and asked them if they wanted to see my birth certificate, and they said, ‘Do you have it?’ and I said, ‘Yes.’ ”

She said she does not plan to get a passport book but will apply for a passport card.

People can apply for a  passport card starting today.

The card, which will be issued in the spring, is only valid for sea and land crossings and is cheaper than a passport book.

The passport card, a trusted traveler card, an enhanced driver’s license and tribal cards — when they become available — are recommended for frequent land border crossers for expedited processing.

Brian Levin, public affairs liaison for Customs and Border Protection in Tucson, said the process was going “smoothly.”

“We didn’t expect it to have any impact on the amount of time a person waits to come into the country,” he       said.

“Again, this an educational phase we are embarking on here.”

Starting in June 2009, people will be required to show a passport or equivalent document to cross at ports of entry.

Officers at the ports will have latitude to admit people who are unaware of the changes once their identities are confirmed, said Jayson Ahern, deputy commissioner with Customs and Border Protection, who is heading a national effort to call attention to the changes.

Many points were offering a grace period and handing out fliers explaining the changes.

There were no unusual delays during the morning rush hour in Detroit, which has the busiest northern border crossing, said Ron Smith, a spokesman for U.S. Customs and Border Protection there.

The bridge and tunnel crossings between Detroit and Windsor, Ontario typically can see wait times of about 30 minutes to enter the U.S.

Congress approved the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative in 2004, which requires verified citizenship and identification of all those entering the country from Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.The passport requirement for land and sea crossings has been delayed until June 2009.

Mexican citizens will continue to have to present valid passports and visas. Canadian citizens previously were not required to show a passport, but will need one after next year.

Smith said few people have crossed the northern border by just declaring their nationality since the 2001 terrorist attacks, because officers have always had the discretion to request documents.

Over the last two fiscal years, 31,000 people who claimed at the borders to be U.S. citizens were not, Ahern said.

Critics, particularly in northern border states, have assailed Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff over the changes. Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minn., accused him of not understanding “the practical effects of DHS policies on the everyday lives of border community residents.”