Those visiting national parks this year may face additional questioning about their citizenship. According to an internal National Park Service (NPS) directive, park staff have been instructed to ask visitors whether they are United States residents at 11 of the nation’s most popular parks.
The Washington Post obtained a copy of the regulation, which instructs park service staff to ask visitors, “How many people visiting are not U.S. citizens or residents?” The document also says, “the fee collector does not need to check the identification of every visitor.”
Outside did not independently verify the memo, but did contact the NPS for comment. We will update this article if we receive a response.
It comes after the Trump administration last year issued an executive order raising visitor fees for non-U.S. residents at some of the most visited national parks. In addition to the entrance fee, non-residents over 16 now pay an additional $100 surcharge. The new fee now applies to Acadia, Bryce Canyon, Everglades, Glacier, Grand Canyon, Grand Teton, Rocky Mountain, Sequoia and Kings Canyon, Yellowstone, Yosemite, and Zion National Parks.
America the Beautiful passes, which offer admission to all sites in the National Park system, now cost an additional $170 for nonresidents. It’s $80 for those who live in the U.S.
Some say this new policy mimics tactics used at immigration checkpoints.
“It’s meant to make people feel nervous and uncomfortable and make the decision to either stay away or to modify their plans based on their identities,” Mneesha Gellman, a political scientist at Emerson College, who serves as an expert witness in U.S. immigration court, told The Washington Post.
According to the NPS website, purchasers of an America the Beautiful Annual Pass must provide proof of U.S. citizenship or residency. Those who bought digital passes will be required to show a photo ID at the time of use.
There are many different types of immigration status in the United States, and NPS staff aren’t properly trained to distinguish between residents and non-residents. Time spent asking additional questions at park entrances could also add to an already understaffed, overburdened agency.
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