The U.S./Canada border is the longest international border in the world, and it may soon present problems as significant as the Mexican border. The Champlain, NY Border Patrol station is witnessing an increase of Mexicans arrested for illegally entering the United States from Canada.
This increase in illegal immigration from Canada is due to some progressive changes in Canadian immigration laws that allow certain nationalities to enter with minimum requirements. Canada’s Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) program enables citizens from Mexico and Romania to enter without first obtaining a visa. Those aliens arrive legally in Canada but cross illegally into the U.S.
In November 2016, Canada ended its visa requirements for Mexicans who fly into the country and only required an online precheck be completed to land in Canada. Since then, the ETA program has expanded to included Romania and more than 50 countries.