Securing the Canada-U.S. Border: Actions and Outcomes to Date
Target: Eliminate sources of illegal southbound movements
Actions and Outcomes:
89% reduction in illegal southbound movement from peak 2024 levels
77% reduction in irregular asylum claims in Canada (2024 v. same period in 2023)
Reduced visa fraud through tightened processing measures and 600% increase in visa investigations
Security screening of 100% of asylum seekers and high-risk visitors
Increased removals of failed asylum claimants (targeting 25% increase next year)
Target: Eliminate illegal border crossings through real-time surveillance of border areas
Actions and Outcomes:
Investments in border surveillance equipment and capacity (drones, towers, Black Hawk helicopters, K-9 teams), including military support for intelligence analysis and logistics
Increased federal border personnel complemented by an additional 350+ personnel and support from provinces and territories
Freed up Canadian and U.S. border officers to focus on high-risk activity by closing immigration processing loophole (flagpoling) – up to 8000 labour days saved
Target: Detect and disrupt the fentanyl trade with more technology, tools, intelligence and cross-border collaboration
Actions and Outcomes:
Establishing Canada-U.S. enforcement Strike Force, with plans to develop joint intelligence mapping with U.S. by February 2025, establish shared targets, and collaborate on specific operations
Executive Direction to Canadian intelligence agencies to immediately redirect resources to focus on transnational criminal organizations
Investments in detection capacity: X-ray devices, radiation portal monitors, chemical analyzers, postal detector dog teams
More support for law enforcement investigations through increase in lab analysis capacity, increased collaboration with U.S. DEA in areas such as training and information sharing, and new drug enforcement hubs modelled after the U.S.
Hitting back at illegal fentanyl production by increasing control and oversight of precursor chemicals, and more rapid response to identify and schedule emerging precursor chemicals
More tools to follow the money through enhanced anti-money laundering authorities and financial investigations, new border financial crimes centre, and new North American operational alert on money laundering indicators
Lab busts: Between 2018 and 2024 Canadian law enforcement disrupted and dismantled 44 lab sites tied to illicit fentanyl; multijurisdictional approach to upcoming disruption and prosecution
Target: Strengthen border security through cross-border information and intelligence sharing
Actions and Outcomes:
Joint enforcement activities underway with U.S. through Integrated Border Enforcement Teams, joint management tables, U.S. Border Enforcement Security Task Force, and joint threat assessments / operations
Investments in joint intelligence capacity to disrupt transnational organized crime and illegal drug and firearms trafficking
Enhanced information sharing (e.g., information on high-risk child sex offenders, information on bulk trading, etc.) and joint training
Target: Keep people safe through joint emergency readiness and perimeter security cooperation, especially during fire season
Actions and Outcomes:
Establishing a FEMA/PS Joint Emergency Management Council for "NORAD-like" partnership in emergency management
Providing mutual assistance when needed most (e.g., fighting Los Angeles fires)
Conducting joint emergency response exercises (EX Vital Archer, EX Cobalt Magnet)
