FARGO (AP) - Sen. Byron Dorgan says he wants the Bush administration to suspend a new Canadian border crossing rule that takes effect in less than two weeks.

Starting Jan. 31, a driver's license and oral declaration of citizenship will not be enough for Americans and Canadians who are 19 or older to enter the United States through a land or sea port of entry. Those people will have to present proof of citizenship, usually in the form of a birth certificate. Passports will not be required until at least June 2009.

Dorgan, D-N.D., said Monday that the public has not been educated enough about the new rule and that it will have a significant effect on communities in North Dakota.

"I strongly support efforts to strengthen security at the border, but this plan is being done in a way that can only create more hassle for travelers and do nothing for security," he said. "Congress delayed the deadline for the passport requirement so they could have the time to get it right, not so they could throw up arbitrary barriers to cross-border travel."

More than 800,000 people enter the U.S. through land and sea ports each day. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said last week that the new rule is in the interest of preventing terrorism. He said critics of the border security effort need to "grow up."

Dorgan said that since border agents already have the authority to require travelers to show proof of citizenship if necessary, the new requirement does not result in any real security benefit.

Dorgan said the Bush administration also has not said how it will verify the authenticity of birth certificates, which he said come in nearly 8,000 varieties depending on which state, province or locality issued them.

The new rule also applies at the Mexican border, though non-Americans coming in through Mexico already need extra documentation.