24 November 09
Secretary Napolitano and Minister Van Loan Announce Initiatives to Combat Common Threats and Expedite Travel and Trade
U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Public Safety Canada Minister Peter Van Loan today announced initiatives between the United States and Canada. Those initiatives build on their shared commitment to tackle common threats like terrorism and organized crime while ensuring the lawful flow of travel and trade across the border. The announcement came after Secretary Napolitano and Minister Van Loan met for the second of their formal biannual meetings; the Secretary and the Minister have also met three other times this year. [more]

13 June 09
Remarks at the 100th Anniversary of the Boundary Waters Treaty - Hillary Rodham Clinton Secretary of State
Good morning. What a glorious day, and it’s an absolute delight for me to be here on this occasion. I take any excuse I can to get back to come back to New York, and to celebrate this commemoration with all of you and to have an opportunity to spend time with my Canadian counterpart, Minister Cannon, is indeed a privilege. I just want to recognize the significance of this extraordinary moment in time. The friendship between the people of the United States and Canada is the strongest in the world. There is no border that is longer and more peaceful; there is no greater trade between two nations. There are so many values that we share in common, and today we celebrate a treaty that helped to make this friendship possible 100 years ago. [more]
Related: Press Conference - Remarks With Canadian Foreign Minister Cannon.

12 June 09
Secretary Clinton Travel to Canada
Boundary Waters Treaty Centennial Celebration Fact Sheet
On June 13, 2009, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will join Canadian Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon on the Rainbow Bridge connecting Niagara Falls, New York to Ontario, Canada to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Boundary Waters Treaty.

The Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909 created the independent International Joint Commission (IJC) to prevent and resolve boundary waters disputes between Canada and the United States. The IJC makes decisions on applications for projects such as dams in boundary waters and regulates the operations of many of those projects. The IJC also has a permanent reference under the 1972 Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement to help the two national governments restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of those waters. [more]

27 May 09
Joint Statement by Secretary Napolitano and Canadian Public Safety Minister Peter Van Loan on the U.S.-Canada Border
Ottawa—The Honorable Janet Napolitano, U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, and the Honorable Peter Van Loan, Canadian Minister of Public Safety, recognize the unique nature of the U.S.-Canada border and share a determination to tackle common threats that we face, including terrorism and organized crime.
“We are working in partnership to ensure we manage the border in a way that contributes to the well-being of our two countries and recognize that we can enhance our security without compromising trade. [more]
Related:
- Readout of Secretary Napolitano’s Meeting with Canadian Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney
- Statement by Secretary Napolitano on the Appointment of Jeff Neal as Chief Human Capital Officer

26 May 09
United States and Canada Act Jointly to Combat Cross-Border Crime
Detroit—The Honorable Janet Napolitano, U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, and the Honorable Peter Van Loan, Canadian Minister of Public Safety, toured port operations today on both sides of the shared United States/Canada border and signed an agreement to make Shiprider—joint law enforcement teams stationed along the international maritime border—permanent. [more]

22 May 09
Comments by Terry A. Breese, U.S. Embassy Canada, Charge d’Affaires, a.i. regarding U.S. - Canada border issues
The border which lies between Canada and the United States is a priority to both countries, the intersection of billions of dollars of trade between the two countries. A recent survey conducted by Angus Reid shows that 77 per cent of Canadians were satisfied with the amount of time they had to wait to go through immigration and/or customs at the border. However, our work is not done and there are efforts underway to improve infrastructure and services at the border. U.S. Embassy Charge d’Affairs, a.i. Terry Breese offers comments on the priorities facing both countries at the border and Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) changes, which take effect June 1, 2009. [more] [more on WHTI].

25 February 09
Cargo Security
Importer Security Filing and Additional Carrier Requirements. Follow the link for more... [more] .

25 February 09
What's New with ACE?
The latest and greatest news on ACE. Follow the link for more... [more] .

11 December 08
Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative Deadline Approaches
The Department of State recommends that travelers apply now for travel documents that will be required at all land or sea border entry points as of June 1, 2009. On that date, under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) U.S. citizens will be required to present a government-approved document that denotes both citizenship and identity when entering the United States. [more] .

16 September 08
U.S. Customs and Border Protection Launches WHTI Advertising Campaign in Canada
Washington — The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protection is launching a television and print advertising campaign in Canada today to remind the Canadian public about travel document requirements for entry into the U.S. that go into effect on June 1, 2009. [more].

08 August 08
CBP Opens 5th Northern Border Air and Marine Branch - Selfridge, Mich. Fleet Includes State-of-the-Art Surveillance Aircraft to Increase Border Security
Detroit – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officially opened the Great Lakes Air and Marine Branch today at Selfridge Air National Guard Base near Detroit to enhance CBP’s northern border security operations. The Great Lakes Air and Marine Branch is the last of five planned new air and marine facilities that make up the Northern Border Air Wing as mandated by Congress after the terrorist attack of September 11, 2001. [more].

31 July 08
ESTA Pilot Program for Eligible Non-Canadian Citizens Traveling to the United States via Air or Sea
OTTAWA – Travelers to the United States from the 27 countries participating in the U.S. Visa Waiver Program (VWP) should be aware of a new pilot program for online registration of their intended travel. Please note that Canadian citizens are NOT subject to this new program.

As of August 1, 2008, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will begin piloting an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). Visa Waiver Program citizens who would not otherwise require a visa (mainly those who are visiting the U.S. for 90 days or less for business or pleasure) are subject to new ESTA requirements. ESTA registration is only for visitors traveling by air or sea; land-border crossings are exempt. [more]

30 July 08

Cross border travelers are strongly encouraged to use the Pacific Highway, Lynden or Sumas crossings because the next phase of U.S. border station construction at Peace Arch will close off portions of the I-5 in that area.

Starting August 5, southbound traffic at the Peace Arch crossing will be directed off the I-5 freeway at D Street Exit 276 in Blaine. Flaggers and signage will re-direct travelers to the point where traffic can re-join the I-5.

Beginning August 18, northbound I-5 traffic will be detoured to the east of the existing border station. There will be no northbound access to I-5 from the D Street Exit 276 in Blaine. Those who would ordinarily use the D Street entry to reach the Canadian border on I-5 will be redirected to SR (state route) 543 (truck route) to the Pacific Highway border crossing into Canada.

The traffic re-routing is to allow construction of the new U.S. border station and a bridge which would take traffic over the new border station. Because of the complexity of the project, traffic detouring at Peace Arch will extend to September 2009.

Travelers are urged to check border cameras and wait times on the websites below.

22 July 08
Joint Announcement From The U.S. Departments Of State And Homeland Security On Passport Card Production
The U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced today that the new U.S. Passport Card is in full production and is now being distributed. The Passport Card is a convenient, wallet-sized document for land and sea travel between the United States and Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean, and Bermuda. It is not valid for international travel by air.

Beginning in June 2009, travelers will be required to present a single Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative-compliant document denoting both citizenship and identity when entering the United States through a land or sea border. [more]

15 July 08
CRS Report For Congress: Imports of Canadian Waste.

13 May 08
CRS Report For Congress: Border Security: Key Agencies and Their Missions
After the massive reorganization of federal agencies precipitated by the creation of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), there are now four main federal agencies charged with securing the United States’ borders: the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the Bureau of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the United States Coast Guard, and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). The report serves as a primer on the key federal agencies charged with border security, briefly describing each agency’s role in securing our nation’s borders.

27 March 08
Press Release: Homeland Security and State Departments Announce WHITI Land and Sea Final Rule - Full Implementation on June 1, 2009 [More] [FAQs].

19 March 08
Remarks Prepared for Delivery by Attorney General Michael B. Mukasey at the Cross Border Crime Forum - Quebec
Department of Justice -- The United States and Canada share an extensive border, a long history of friendship, and convenient access that has encouraged the free flow of commerce and visitors. But that convenience also allows for easy access to criminals. Our success in stopping them depends on close collaboration among all levels of law enforcement, domestically and internationally. It depends on the enthusiasm and information sharing that come out of meetings like this one. [More]

31 January 08
Press Release: Important Change in International Land and Sea Travel Document Procedures [More]

17 January 08
Reminder to Travelers: New Land and Sea Border Crossing Procedures Start January 31, 2008 [Media Release].
Related:
- Important Change in International Land and Sea Travel Document Procedures
- What documents are needed?
- Why is DHS Tightening Document Security at the Border?
- Why is DHS Eliminating Oral Declarations?
- FAQs

15 January 08
U.S. Passport Card: - Department Announces Award of Passport Card Contract. [More]
U.S. citizens may begin applying in advance for the new U.S. Passport Card beginning February 1, 2008, in anticipation of land border travel document requirements. [More]

10 January 08
U.S. Passport Card - U.S. citizens may begin applying in advance for the new U.S. Passport Card beginning February 1, 2008, in anticipation of land border travel document requirements. [More]