This story is archived
Going to Canada? Check your past »
Posted by: Aidenag 2 years, 10 months agoThere was a time not long ago when a trip across the border from the United States to Canada was accomplished with a wink and a wave of a driver's license. Those days are over. Welcome to the new world of border security. Where visitors with even minor, decades old criminal records are now being turned back at border.
Read Full Story at sfgate.com »
Submitted By:
Aidenag
Photographer by day, news junkie by night. My main areas of interest are politics and the environment.
This Story is Archived and Commenting is Closed
Comments: 97
-
2Labs
Feb. 23, 2007, 1:21 p.m.Funny, Canada won't let U.S. citizens in their country for crimes committed in the U.S. yet the United States wont send home illegal aliens, all of which committed a crime by the act of crossing our borders illegally.
Let the Canadians have their laws and lets improve ours.
-
contrast
Feb. 23, 2007, 1:59 p.m.Wow even bleeding heart canada says no criminals allowed inside. Maybe this evil juggernaut country that kills puppies and runs over old ladies (as some people would have you think) with absolutely no border security can take a page from our hippie flower children neighbors to the north who are actually making a good call on this.
-
spkguy
Feb. 23, 2007, 2:09 p.m.I used to go to Vegas every year, 9 years in a row, and I would spend about 7000.00 every year at the CES convention.
Then one year I was in the air port and I was turned back by US customs for something that had happened to me when I was 17. I said to the customs officer why am I being turned back
and he informed me that I was inadmissible because of my indiscretion at the age of 17. I said " I have been going to Vegas every year for the last 9 years," he said "not any more". Well it ended up costing me almost 3000.00 for the plane fair and hotel reservation, needless to say I was pi$$ed. I was told I could apply for a waiver, and I said "but I have been pardoned." Then I was told "we don't recognized Canadian pardons."
-
Candida
Feb. 23, 2007, 2:13 p.m.The article forgets to mention one little fact: the tightening of the border was initiated by the US, not Canada. It was the US that decided that passports would be required from 2007 when crossing the border by plane and from 2008 when crossing the border on land. It was the US that requires iris scans when citizens of other nations enter the US, even if they just transfer planes in a US airport. Security checks around the world for people traveling through the US take hours more than for those traveling elsewhere.
Although it has never been stated in so many words, the original purpose of the tightening of the Canadian/US border was probably to keep unwanted Canadians out of the US. It just seems to have backfired a bit, as the article demonstrates.
-
GBM636
Feb. 23, 2007, 2:25 p.m.I live in canada , and the border crossing has about reached an insane level of stupidity. I had crossed the border weekly for about 30 years for shopping or drinks at a local tavern. About a year ago i forgot my wallet, which i agree is a no no , i should have been turned back and told to get my ID which would have been no big deal. Instead I was formally refused entry , finger printed, picture taken and strip searched and detained for about 6 hours. And told if I wanted to ever cross in to the USA again i would have to apply to washington , be investigated and pay a hefty fee to have this done and would take any where from 1-3 years. This was performed by some young rookie border guard.
-
GBM636
Feb. 23, 2007, 2:27 p.m.After i was released i was approached by a senior officer that knew me from other trips, he apologized and explained it was a totally insane thing that had just happened, but because of there new rules one officer can not enter into another duties. As near as i can find out it cost the USA about $3000.00 for all that happened for man power and paper work, not to mention about $5000.00 in lost sales for there businesses. it happens on both sides. For the record I have lived with in 30 miles of the crossing for 45 years I was not a new to any area or country. It has gotten very sad on both countries parts for not teaching simple and often needed common sense.
-
leed
Feb. 23, 2007, 2:42 p.m.this policy is the best thing the goverment has ever done, crime rate has already stared rising in canada cause of the crap thats spilling in from the US.
this is the only way to slow it down.
-
IcCaRus
Feb. 23, 2007, 3:04 p.m.total crap! on BOTH sides of the border! im not afraid to say that i have a 27 yr old misdemenor pot posession charge on my record. but as the guy in the article said "who didnt back then?" ...
anyway, to be denied entry into another country (ESPECIALLY an "ally") for something so trivial that happened that long ago is just stupid, stupid, stupid.
couple other issues as well...
arent we allowed SOME rights to privacy? i think any government letting other governments have access to their citizens records is just wrong. if i tell things about my govt, im guilty of treason, but my govt can tell things about me? if im a real security risk, ok. but 30 yr old BS charges??? this is wrong people!
also, what happens when so many countries are on board that being convicted of almost anything makes you a de facto prisoner within your own country. if no other country will admit you, where could you go?
the intent was good, but in actual practice this is kinda silly.
-
FabledOne
Feb. 23, 2007, 3:17 p.m.Last year I was going to Canada to perform at a large Canadian Exhibition. I had done so the previous year without incident. When I got to the immigration counter I was asked if I had ever been arrested to whcih I promptly answered "no". The officer became obviously irate and she asked me if I would like to change my story. It dawned on me suddenly that I had been arrested when I was 18 on a 'drunk in public' charge(I was in the wrong place at the wrong time but not intoxicated- my attorney plead me guilty to save going to trial on some other charges of which I was not party to. I was given a $50 fine.)I apologized to the officer and attempted to explain that it was 35 years ago and I received a $50 fine. I told her that when she had said arrested, I thought she was referring to a crime. At this point she got almost hostile, and was threatening me with being booted out of the country immediately for lying to an officer and attempting to hide my criminal record.
-
ademala
Feb. 23, 2007, 3:24 p.m.I agree. This is total stupidity for both governments. Not only will the federal, state and local govenments lose out on all the taxes payed by the travelers but the people of both countries will lose out on meeting people from different cultures and reaping the benifits of so doing. There is a reason for it I guess but I think it has gone a little over board. I guess the bad guys have won out with all the paranoia they have created. Its sad.
-
FabledOne
Feb. 23, 2007, 3:27 p.m.After a long and abusive verbal barrage, she sent me down a hallway to a waiting area, where I sat for an hour until she called me back. She said that I was very lucky that they were going to let me in, but that she was flagging my passport to let other customs agents know that I had lied to an offcier and made false statements. She said they would watch me closely and that I might not get in again. I felt like a common criminal the whole time I was in Canada. True to her word, when I got ready to go home and had to go back through customs, I was pulled aside and detained while they ran a background check on me. Until I read this article, I had no idea this was going on with others. The people in Canada are the nicest in the world and we love them to pieces. But...did I really deserve that kind of treatment over a $50 fine I got 35 years ago? And tell me how this makes the country stronger and safer? I certainly am hesitant to go back to Canada again...
-
Waterkeeper
Feb. 23, 2007, 3:34 p.m.I cross the border at least a dozen times a month. Besides showing my passport or the occasional search, I have had no issues. I have a clean record though.
It all depends on that initial impression you make on the border officer. They can find any little way to mess with you if they like. Stumble or hesitate on any question, you are suspect as to your activites.
-
cleare
Feb. 23, 2007, 3:36 p.m.unf*^&ingbelievable!!! a very sad testiment to the times.
i remember visiting vancouver three years ago...felt smugly superior when seperated out from the eurotrash for speedy northamerican fellowship. i guess no more...
too dam bad.
-
demonchck04
Feb. 23, 2007, 3:49 p.m.What is even worse about all this is that if we receive any kind of misdemenor charge in our life like a speeding ticket, DUI, Pot possesion, ect. Our gov't can only hold it over our head for something like 5 years and then they are no longer allowed to use it against us for any reason. So how do they get the right to hold crap like that against us that are 20 years old. We all have done stupid things in our youth but why imprison us in our own country for it?!
-
LABELDUDE
Feb. 23, 2007, 3:53 p.m.Here is a list of reasons why I like to go to Canada:
Wait right there, I'm workin' up a list....
-
Bobcat6
Feb. 23, 2007, 4:22 p.m.So why can't we do the same thing? I don't hear the nazi liberals criticizing Canada for this. Why not? Do we have a double standard here? What a bunch of ice holes!
-
abntv
Feb. 23, 2007, 5:31 p.m.What is more interesting to me is the fact that the explosives and terrorists are headed south not north..I have traveled into and out of Cananda (note the caps)for many years..I have noticed over the years that the Canadian border people have become more and more aggressive and outright rude at times..alot of this was going on long before 9/11
-
Amazing1
Feb. 23, 2007, 5:33 p.m.And yet, look at the southern border. But, oh, that's ok. Big business needs cheap labor for jobs Americans won't do. Every time I hear that line of crapola, I nearly come unglued. I have raked blueberries, picked beans, packed sardines and worked as an auto detailer. Do not tell me there are jobs Americans won't do.
But I digress. I have always thought well of Canada. And a part of this may have a lot to do with drug prices. Big pharma will sell cheap to Canada and gouge Americans. And one way to prevent Americans from paying Canadian prices is to screw up the border.
And for stuff that was done so long ago? Disgusting.
-
-
2Labs
Feb. 23, 2007, 6:04 p.m.I really don't know but from my perspective this seems to be a big money maker for Canada and may also be for the U.S..
I know of several people who booked trips to Canada, placeing hefty non-refundable deposits for their accomodations, activities etc.. At the border they were stopped "processed" and given the ultimatum of turning around or paying hefty fees for the right to remain in Canada for roughly ten days.
In a situation like that its almost duress. But ultimately I guess its buyer beware.
-
-
abntv
Feb. 23, 2007, 6:05 p.m.I wonder if there is a way of determining ahead of time if you will be allowed in?
-
interested101
Feb. 23, 2007, 6:15 p.m.If you were to enter either Canada or the U.S. not knowing which country you were in, you would have a hard time deciding.
Canadians and Americans are more alike than most people would like to admit.
Living near the border, I've heard all the Canadian diatribe, and heard people speak of Americans the same.
The truth is, while we may be different in many ways regarding our laws, Canada is a growing country and the best friend the U.S. could ask for. And visa-versa.
I care about and respect my American neighbours and I'll never felt more connected to America than on Sept. 11 when the terrorist attacks occured.
I thought, here, these people woke up just like me (6 a.m.), went to work and in a matter of minutes were standing on a ledge deciding, jump or burn.
I also felt it was sad that G.W. Bush called England his greatest friend, partner or whatever he said.
It was a disappointment.
I'm not the religous type but, God Bless North America
-
interested101
Feb. 23, 2007, 6:18 p.m.One last comment.
A lady I work with booked a cruise which had a flight departing from Seattle.
It was her son's wedding gift and cost her about $4 grand.
He arrived at the border, and was asked, Do you have a criminal past?
He admited to being busted for a pot roach when he was 17. That was all it took for the American customs guard to turn him and his new bride back.
They lost the trip.
So ****** this way, or ****** that way...it's all going in the same pot.
Again, I appreciate the differences between Canada and America, and hope others can, too.
We should be there for each other, not posture amongst ourselves. At the end of the day, it's really meaningless.
-
disraeli
Feb. 23, 2007, 6:20 p.m.The object of the exercise was supposed to be keeping terrorists out. But in an over the top reaction, government and bureaucracies on both sides of the border implement a zero tolerance policy. Such zero tolerance policies take the discretion out of the hands of supposedly trained customs personnel to overlook the ancient and minor transgressions that blemish the records of now older, wiser and mature people. Such policies probably do very little to deter the serious terrorist types (they will just send someone with a clean record).
Don't misunderstand I think that the border standards need to be tough with serious criminals and terrorists. But to create a situation where a 50 year old with a DUI conviction dating to spring break 30 years ago is denied entry is stupid, expensive and misses the point completely.
But simple minds create simple policies to be enforced by yet more simple minds.
The first 74 comments are shown. Show all 97 comments »
Submit a Story
Advertisement
