The “border czar” recently appointed by US President-elect Donald Trump says the Canadian border is a “huge national security issue” he plans to address when the new administration takes over.
In an interview with WWNY that aired on Monday, Tom Homan, the incoming president’s former acting US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) director, said that Trump must work with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to enforce stricter immigration laws.
He said that a lot of “special interest aliens,” which are people from countries that the US deems as national security or counterintelligence threats, come through the Canada-US border.
“It’s an extreme national security vulnerability on the northern border, and it’s one of the things I’ll tackle,” he told WWNY.
One of the issues Homan raises is that while the southern US border with Mexico has more irregular crossings, the northern border shared with Canada has fewer resources and border patrol agents, so “they’re overwhelmed.”
Earlier this week, CBS reported that illegal crossings at the northern US border, specifically along eastern New York, Vermont, Ontario, and Quebec, have continued to skyrocket.
According to US Customs and Border Protection, border patrol agents in the Swanton Sector have apprehended more than 19,222 people from 97 different countries since October of last year.
The CBP says that’s more than its last 17 fiscal years combined.
Border Patrol Agents in Swanton Sector have apprehended more than 19,222 subjects from 97 different countries since October 1, 2023, which is more than its last 17 fiscal years combined.
Report suspicious border activity in Swanton Sector: 1-800-689-3362 @USBPChief@CBP@DHSgov pic.twitter.com/BhUaYYi15B— Chief Patrol Agent Robert Garcia (@USBPChiefSWB) October 2, 2024
Homan told WWNY that the Trump administration must put more border patrol agents in the north and also needs to end “catch and release,” which is a US immigration enforcement practice of releasing a migrant into the community while they await hearings in court instead of holding them in immigration detention.
“There has to be an understanding from Canada that they can’t be a gateway to terrorists coming to the United States,” said the so-called border czar.
Some Canadians have reacted to Homan’s comments online with apprehension.
That man is a very bad man.
— Dr.VivianS (@DrVivianS) November 13, 2024
Others welcome his plans.
They are right, btw. If Trudeau isn’t going to be a man for a change and do his job, the US will force him to do it now.
— Michael (@justwannasayth2) November 13, 2024
Oh this should be beneficial for Canada
— Zorpheous Schrödinger (@Zorpheous) November 13, 2024
This isn’t the first time Trump has made divisive remarks regarding the Canada-US border.
In August, the president-elect claimed that the US is facing a threat of “invasion” from Canada.
Trump secured his second presidential term in the US last week, and Canadians had much to say about it.