New York: The newly-elected US government is worried about security risks associated with Canada. Tom Homan, the ‘border czar’ picked by President-elect Donald Trump, has raised concerns about Canada’s borders with the US being vulnerable and exploited by terrorists to enter the territory of the United States. These remarks from Tom Homan have signalled the rising concerns regarding the increasing impact of radicals in Canada, be it Khalistani terrorists or Pakistan-based terror outfits, making the nation a safe terror haven.
In September 2023, a Pakistani citizen planning to cross into the US to attack Jewish people in New York City was arrested in Canada’s Quebec, according to a foreign media outlet. Emphasising the same, Homan stated that Canada needs to understand that it cannot be a “gateway for terrorists” to the US.
Homan, who previously served as the Acting Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), highlighted the risk saying that the fear looms large that the terrorists could slip into the US.
He also highlighted the risk posed by “special interest aliens” — individuals from countries with ties to terrorism — using Canada as a passage into the US. The US Border Patrol has reported a sharp increase in illegal border crossings along the northern border, particularly in the Swanton Sector, which covers parts of Vermont and New York. In the past year, over 19,000 individuals from 97 countries were apprehended, exceeding the total number of arrests over the previous 17 years.
The rise in human smuggling along the border is linked to organized crime groups in Canada, charging between USD 1,500 and USD 6,000 per person for illegal entry into the US. These illegal crossings often take place in remote areas, including rivers, farmland, and forests. Tragically, some of these journeys end in death, as seen in the case of an Indian family who froze to death while attempting to cross the US-Canada border.
Donald Trump’s swearing-in ceremony is scheduled for January 20, 2025, and he is busy putting together a team that is reflecting his policy priorities. Border security and illegal immigration are on top of Trump’s agenda.
Canada’s Border Security Is Weaker: Homan
He emphasised that tightening northern border security would be a priority for the incoming administration, with a particular focus on rising human smuggling activity and irregular crossings from Canada. He warned of “tough conversations” with Ottawa as part of addressing these vulnerabilities.
Homan also noted that Canada’s border security is weaker, with fewer officers, making it an attractive route for illegal immigrants, including those from countries that are a hub of terrorism.
In an interview with 7News in New York’s Watertown, Homan stressed his commitment to national security and indicated that addressing these vulnerabilities would be part of Trump’s broader agenda.
India has been raising the issue of the threat to its security from Canada. The Justin Trudeau administration is not cracking down on Khalistani terrorists who have made the country a safe haven, and targeting people in India. Canada hasn’t deported terrorists wanted by India. India has accused Trudeau of mollycoddling Khalistanis as part of his vote-bank politics.
Rise in Human Smuggling Along Canada Border
The rise in human smuggling along the border is linked to organised crime groups in Canada, charging between USD 1,500 and USD 6,000 per person for illegal entry into the US. These illegal crossings often take place in remote areas, including rivers, farmland, and forests.
Tragically, some of these journeys end in death, as seen in the case of an Indian family who froze to death while attempting to cross the US Canada border. Human trafficking networks have been linked to fatal incidents, including the drowning deaths of two families — one from India and the other from Romania — in the St Lawrence River in March 2023.
The US has also seen a surge in irregular crossings from India, which has now become the leading source country for illegal border crossings from Canada, according to CBC News. In 2023, US Customs and Border Protection arrested or expelled a record 96,917 individuals from India attempting to enter the US illegally.
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