US toughens visitor registration rules for Canadians

The United States is cracking down on long-term visits from Canadians by now requiring visitors in the U.S. longer than 30 days to register with the government.

Those who are over the age of 14 will also need to apply for fingerprinting with authorities, according to the mandate uploaded Wednesday to the Federal Register. It firms up an existing law from which Canadians had typically been exempt.

The move comes as Canada, Mexico and the U.S. remain entangled in a trade war spurred by President Trump’s new levies on imports from both foreign countries.

Each nation has sought to impose retaliatory measures while agreeing to work with Trump to address his concerns on the influx of fentanyl, an addictive and deadly opioid, which he has promised to wipe out.  

The rule will go into effect April 11 and is set to impact 900,000 Canadians, some of whom vacation in the U.S. during winter months to escape the cold. Previous practice required only individuals who flew across the border to register with the government.

Those who do not comply could face misdemeanor prosecution resulting in a fine of up to $5,000 or imprisonment for not more than 30 days. Officials also reserve the right to impose both punishments concurrently. 

The new requirement only allows for one exemption, which applies to American Indians born in Canada who entered the United States under section 289 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, and members of the Texas Band of Kickapoo Indians who entered the United States under the Texas Band of Kickapoo Act, are not required to register.

The regulations advance the Trump administration’s measures to crack down on illegal immigration through the Protecting American People Against Invasion executive order, which seeks to “eliminate all documentary barriers, dilatory tactics, or other restrictions that prevent the prompt repatriation of aliens to any foreign state.”