As some European countries rebuild and fortify their border crossings to keep out refugees, U.S. troops in Europe should expect travel disruptions and should remember to have their passports in pocket if traveling across national borders, U.S. officials say.
Several countries, including Germany, Austria, the Netherlands and Slovakia, have revived some border checkpoints that vanished years ago with European Union integration.
The countries are responding to the migration of thousands of refugees, many fleeing civil war in Syria that is now in its fifth year.
The U.S. Embassy in Berlin issued a statement Monday warning that “the ongoing refugee situation in the region may cause disruptions at some border crossings and on land transportation networks. Official checkpoints may be set up on normally open border crossings with other countries, borders may be temporarily closed, or road and rail travel may be halted with little or no warning.”
U.S. military commands in Europe maintain standing guidance that troops should carry their passports when crossing borders, regardless of whether the crossing points typically feature an official checkpoint.
“Just as one is required to carry a driver’s license while driving although it may not be checked, the same applies for carrying a passport when crossing European country borders, even when there are no checkpoints,” according to the U.S. Army Europe website.
“Federal police in some European countries have the right to pull vehicles over without suspicion of wrongdoing simply to check passports,” the USAREUR guidance states.
“Some countries that are members of the European Union’s Schengen zone allow EU citizens to cross their borders freely without a passport; however the agreement does not extend to U.S. or other non-EU citizens.”
