Overview

• U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra said reported phone searches and detentions of Canadians at ports of entry are isolated incidents and not U.S. policy.
• Ottawa’s April update to its travel advisory warns Canadians to expect heightened scrutiny, including potential detention and searches of electronic devices.
• Numerous travellers have reported intensified phone inspections and occasional detentions despite U.S. denials of routine device checks.
• Statistics Canada data show a 13% decline in air travel and nearly a one-third drop in land crossings as airlines cut flights amid reduced demand.
• New U.S. rules now require Canadians staying over 30 days to register their travel and LGBTQ+ groups have skipped U.S. events over border scrutiny concerns.