Immigration.ca - Canada Immigration News - February 2008
In the past month, new regulations have made it more difficult for Canadian citizens to cross into the United States. Instead of requiring no more than photo identification, crossing now requires for the most part, at least a passport. However, these policies may not, in fact, be making the border all that more secure.
The Canadian-U.S. border has not historically been considered by American officials as a top priority when it comes to terrorism threats, which have recently turned their focus toward Europe. However, in an article published last week in the Middle East times, foreign affairs and defense consultant Olivier Guitta, argues that most threats to American security, in fact, use Canada as their desired point of entry into the U.S.
Guitta cites several historical examples to prove his point, including the June 2006 arrest of 18 “homegrown Muslim terrorists” in Toronto and the Canadian leader of the Tamil Tigers who was arrested in 1995 as a security threat.
Canada appeals to terrorists for several reasons, according to Guitta. Firstly, because of its generally open policies toward immigration, terrorists can easily gain entry, posing as immigrants merely in search of better opportunities. Secondly, Canada is notoriously lenient when it comes to enforcement and deportation. Many criminals who are detained in this country and ordered deported remain in the country for years due to bureaucratic red tape.
Furthermore, the heavy trade relationship between Canada and the U.S. has led to a border that is world-renowned in its openness. The terrorist attacks of 9/11 have led to somewhat stricter policies in guarding its crossings, however, recent statistics show that these efforts may be ineffectual, at best.
The Canadian Press reported this week, that the squads patrolling the Canadian-U.S. border are inadequately equipped to carry out their mission, according to an internal document issued by the Public Works Department.
The document was issued to analyze the effectiveness of the Integrated Border Enforcement Teams, IBETs, which were launched with the purpose in mind of increasing security along the Canada-U.S. border. The teams began patrolling the border in April 2002, and are composed of members of the RCMP, border guards, U.S. immigration officials and the Coast Guard.
Problems faced by the IBETs include lack of radios, making it difficult for the teams to communicate with one another. Furthermore, the teams from one country are not free to cross the border into the other, and, in fact, must surrender their weapons when they do so.
There are currently 23 teams working along the border to stop illegal trafficking. However, most illegal border activity is situated in isolated spots, and not at official border crossings, which are the only locations IBETs are allowed to cross themselves.
The RCMP acknowledges that there are problems, but insists that they are addressing them at a reasonable pace.
Next month, new radios that are part of a pilot project in the RCMP, will help to ease the communication problems. Also, the two nation’s capitals are working toward a treaty that will address jurisdiction concerns, in particular marine crossings but the same principles, once agreed upon, could later be applied to land crossings.
Sources:
The Middle Eastern Times “Danger from Canada” Olivier Guitta February 11, 2008
The Canadian Press “Radio troubles, firearms laws stymie U.S.-Canada border teams: report”
