Porous Borders?

Despite continuing fears that terrorists might find easy access into the U.S. via the Canadian border, Immigration and Naturalization officials have removed more than 100 border agents from Canada, sending them back to the Mexican border, reports CBS News Correspondent Sandra Hughes.

Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Wash., was "deeply disappointed" by the announcement, saying the move was like "robbing Peter to pay Paul."

The congressman has reason to worry: the 4,000-mile undefended U.S.-Canadian border was nearly breached before by al-Qaida.

In 1999, Ahmed Ressam, an Algerian terrorist with ties to Osama bin Laden, was caught crossing from Canada with 130 pounds of explosives in his trunk. His destination was Los Angeles, where he planned to blow up the airport.

Now Ressam is cooperating with the government and says there were many more like him in Canada.

Washington state border officials were opposed to the INS decision to reassign the agents and are waiting for National Guard troops, who are working the airport, but still haven't been deployed to the border.

And it will take a year to implement a congressional plan to double the number of agents along the northern border.

Johnny Williams, INS Western regional director responds, "We do believe that a real answer to receiving threats and responding to it is an increase in our intelligence and how we network with other intelligence agencies, and we are making headway there."

That means fewer agents, longer lines and shorter tempers, as well as a fear that the already strained Canadian border will once again be a tempting gateway for terrorists.

© MMII, CBS Worldwide Inc. All Rights Reserved