Recent news articles are making many people who live or travel near the U.S./Canada border realize that they should carry identification that proves their citizenship and home country. Canada immigration lawyer Evelyn Ackah advises,
Recent actions heavily reported in the media by the United States Border Patrol are making many Canadians and Americans who live in border states carry IDs at all times so they can prove where they live and avoid delays, interrogation and even arrest. If you traveling this long holiday weekend, be sure to carry proper identification to prevent delays - and even detention.
- In May, a French citizen who was visiting her mother in British Columbia was out jogging and accidentally crossed the border into the U.S., where she was detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection for two weeks before she was allowed to return to Canada.
- In June, U.S. Border Agents stopped random cars in New Hampshire and Maine and required drivers and passengers to disclose their citizenship and searched their cars.
- In May, U.S. Border Agents detained two women at a gas station in Montana, requiring they provide identification because they were speaking Spanish - both women are American citizens.
U.S. Border Patrol immigration inspection guidelines allow agents to work within 100 miles of the United States perimeter, and have issued a travel advisory for the Canada Day and Fourth of July long holiday weekends:
to make sure they have their proper documents and to plan ahead. Border traffic volumes peak at various times during this period, especially on weekends.
