Canada’s Immigration Laws Criticized as ‘Too Lenient’ by Trump’s Border Czar
Donald Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, expressed concerns about the laxity of Canada’s immigration laws despite having positive discussions with Canadian officials regarding border security.
“I believe that individuals intending to transit through Canada to reach the United States should undergo thorough screening before entering Canada. It’s crucial for Canada to consider amending its rules in this regard,” remarked Homan.
Recently, the Canadian government unveiled a $1.3 billion initiative aimed at reinforcing security measures along the Canada-U.S. border. The plan involves establishing a joint North American task force to combat organized crime and synthetic drug trafficking, implementing 24/7 border surveillance, utilizing AI and advanced imaging tools to combat drug smuggling, and providing additional resources for aerial surveillance.
In response to Trump’s threat of imposing 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico unless they stem the flow of illegal immigrants and drugs into the U.S., Homan emphasized the priority of border security. While unable to speak on behalf of the president, he underscored the importance of Canada’s cooperation in bolstering border defenses.
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported a surge in migrant encounters at the Canada-U.S. border, with numbers escalating from 109,535 in 2022 to 198,929 in 2024. Indian nationals constitute the largest group of illegal border crossers from Canada into the U.S., followed by Chinese nationals. The CBP recorded 43,764 encounters with Indian nationals and 12,414 encounters with Chinese nationals at the northern border in the previous fiscal year.
