The U.S. Ambassador to Canada, Pete Hoekstra, recently spoke about the current climate for Canadians traveling to the United States. His comments follow a recent survey conducted by the Association for Canadian Studies. Unsurprisingly, the survey found that over half of Canadians are concerned about crossing the border due to a lack of safety. Hoekstra’s testimony was a reminder of America’s welcoming spirit. He called on Canadians to cross, despite alarming recent news about heightened border security.
So in early May, the Association for Canadian Studies launched a survey. The findings found that 52% of respondents feel it is unsafe for Canadians to travel to the United States for all Canadians. The original survey further revealed that fully 29% of respondents did not share this confidence in enforcement while 19% said they did not know. An almost equal share of respondents reported that they do not personally feel welcome in the U.S.
It began with reports over the past months where Canadians were subjected to increased questioning at the US border. Hundreds of travelers have reported having their electronic devices searched, and countless others have faced physical detainment at the border. In April, Ottawa began addressing these concerns by amending its travel advisory. Canadians are right to be concerned that they may face extensive detention should they be refused entry to the U.S.
In his testimony, Hoekstra recognized that many Canadians have had difficult experiences, but insisted that these cases are outliers. He stated, “If a Canadian has had a disappointing experience coming into the United States, I’m not denying that it happened, but I’m saying it’s an isolated event and it is not a pattern.” He promised that searching visitors’ devices won’t be the norm and claimed, “America is a welcoming place.”
Hoekstra personally and politically fought off objections from both sides of the border. He noted that many Americans have experienced indignities or felt unwelcome when crossing the border into Canada. He noted, “I’ve heard that from Americans coming into Canada as well,” adding that negative experiences could stem from individual circumstances at border crossings.
“Despite those worries tabulated in the survey, Hoekstra urged Canadians to take a look at what America has to offer. ‘We welcome Canadians to come in and invest, to spend their hard-earned Canadian dollars at U.S. businesses,’ he said. He stated that people who do not come or who stay away out of fear are losing out on some extremely enriching experiences. ‘There are great things to see in America,’ he emphasized.”
As a result, a number of LGBTQ+ groups have withdrawn from World Pride celebrations in Washington, DC and UN-related events in New York. They fear the discrimination they could encounter crossing the border under such continued surveillance. This decision is indicative of larger fears about travel safety for marginalized communities.
The Canada Border Services Agency claims to investigate all complaints elicited by Americans mistreated in Canada. This shows that worries about customs experiences are two-sided for both nations. Karine Martel from the agency stated, “Treating people with respect, dignity and fairness is fundamental to our border services officers’ relationship with the public.”
As the conversation moves forward on how to improve border policies and traveler experience, Hoekstra’s comments are intended to peace-out Canadians while recognizing their concerns. He wrapped up by encouraging Canadians to do what’s right for them, leaning on personal experiences as opposed to generalized fear mongering.
