The National Post of Canada reported that, according to U. S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), 87 percent of the "terror suspects" stopped at the U. S. land border in 2024 came from Canada. The term "terror suspect" refers to individuals listed in the American "Terrorist Screening Dataset (TSDS)," which includes people facing legal action for terrorism, confirmed members of terrorist groups, and those with family ties to terrorists. Being on this list does not confirm that they are terrorists. These individuals attempted to enter the U. S. legally, unlike those crossing the border illegally.
The high percentage of TSDS-listed individuals caught at the Canadian border raises national security concerns, especially when compared to the attention focused on the southern border with Mexico. The National Post noted that President-elect Donald Trump recently mentioned considering a 25-percent tariff on goods from Canada and Mexico to address issues related to mass migration, drug trafficking, and transnational crime. In the last fiscal year, 358 individuals on the terror watchlist were stopped at Canadian crossings, compared to only 52 at Mexican crossings.
In 2022, Canada accounted for 82 percent of the 380 terror suspects stopped at U. S. land borders, and in 2023, this figure rose to 86 percent of 564 suspects overall. The American list of potential terrorists is broad, including individuals who associate with terrorist groups and those with family ties to suspected terrorists. A single error in this identification process can have serious consequences, as noted by the Department of Justice.
While the report focuses on individuals legally trying to enter the U. S. , it is separate from the issue of illegal immigration from Canada. U. S. border patrol agents have reported a significant rise in illegal crossings recently, with one agent describing the situation as a "flood. " Approximately 19,000 people were arrested attempting to cross illegally in fiscal year 2024, which is equal to the total of all arrests from the previous 17 years combined.
President-elect Trump addressed immigration concerns at the Canadian border via a message on Truth Social, alarming Canadian officials with his tariff threat. He stated that on January 20th, he would enact a 25-percent tariff on all imports from Canada and Mexico until drug trafficking and illegal immigration were controlled. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau did not react strongly to Trump's threat but indicated he had a positive conversation with him and expressed hope for a resolution. Trudeau’s lack of urgency in the face of Trump’s threats drew criticism from various Canadian political figures, including Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre.
Poilievre condemned Trump's tariff threat as "unjustified" and criticized Trudeau for being unprepared to handle the situation. He called for a clear plan to prioritize Canada's economy and security amidst the migration issues. Poilievre mentioned potential risks posed by the presence of many illegal residents in Canada, suggesting it could lead to retaliatory actions from the U. S. against these individuals.
In response, Canadian Immigration Minister Marc Miller challenged Poilievre to obtain the necessary security clearance for immigration briefings instead of merely demanding answers. Trudeau announced earlier in November that he intended to tighten immigration policies that had previously been too lenient. He highlighted issues with educational institutions that used international students as revenue sources and noted bad actors exploiting vulnerable immigrants with false promises.
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