Many Canadians are opting not to travel to the United States in protest of President Donald Trump’s tariffs and repeated threats against Canada’s sovereignty. Read More
The government says expect heightened scrutiny at the border and that if you are denied entry you could be detained.
The government says expect heightened scrutiny at the border and that if you are denied entry you could be detained.
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Many Canadians are opting not to travel to the United States in protest of President Donald Trump’s tariffs and repeated threats against Canada’s sovereignty.
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However, there may be another reason to give travellers pause before heading south of the border.
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The Canadian government updated its travel advice to the U.S. on Friday to include additional information on heightened scrutiny at border crossings.
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It says border officers have more discretion to decide who enters the U.S., including the power to search phones, tablets and laptops.
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“Individual border agents often have significant discretion in making those determinations. U.S. authorities strictly enforce entry requirements. Expect scrutiny at ports of entry, including of electronic devices,” the website states.
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“Comply and be forthcoming in all interactions with border authorities. If you are denied entry, you could be detained while awaiting deportation.”
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The Canadian government’s risk rating for travel to the U.S. remains low and it advises travellers to take normal security precautions.
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Despite the low risk rating, some Canadians are wary of travel to the U.S. after a B.C. woman was detained at the U.S. border, and sent to an Arizona detention facility in chains. She was in various detention centres, which she described as having inhumane conditions, for two weeks before returning to Canada.
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Cross-border travel from B.C. to Washington state has plummeted in recent weeks. The number of people crossing the border into Washington in March fell by nearly half compared to the same period last year, according to data collected by the B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Washington state’s Department of Transportation.
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Earlier this year, B.C. Premier David Eby said British Columbians should rethink trips to the United States and purchases of American products in the wake of Trump’s threatened tariffs.
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On Wednesday, the U.S. announced Canada wouldn’t be charged additional tariffs as part of Trump’s “Liberation Day.”
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While most countries will be charged at least 10 per cent tariffs as part of Trump’s protectionist plan to raise money for the U.S., Mexico and Canada will be exempt from any additional levies.
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Canada is still being charged 25 per cent tariffs on steel, aluminum and non-USMCA goods, and is facing a similar level of tariffs on automobiles.
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The announcement came as a surprise as Trump has repeatedly argued that Canada should become the “51st State” and threatened to use “economic force.”
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With files from Alec Lazenby
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