By Tiffany Crawford

Published Apr 05, 2025

Many Canadians are opting not to travel to the U.S. in protest of President Donald Trump’s tariffs and repeated threats against Canada’s sovereignty.

However, there may be another reason to give travellers pause: The Canadian government updated its travel advice to the U.S. on Friday to include additional information on heightened scrutiny at border crossings.

It says border officers have the power to search phones, tablets and laptops.

“Individual border agents often have significant discretion in making those determinations. U.S. authorities strictly enforce entry requirements. Expect scrutiny at ports of entry, including of electronic devices,” the website states.

“Comply and be forthcoming in all interactions with border authorities. If you are denied entry, you could be detained while awaiting deportation.”

The Canadian government’s risk rating for travel to the U.S. remains low and travellers are advised to take normal security precautions.

Despite the rating, some Canadians are wary of U.S. travel after a B.C. woman was detained at the U.S. border, then sent to an Arizona detention facility in chains. She was moved to several detention centres — which she described as having inhumane conditions — for two weeks before returning to Canada.

Cross-border travel from B.C. to Washington state has recently plummeted, with the number in March falling by nearly half compared to the same period last year, according to the B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Washington state’s Department of Transportation.

On Wednesday, the U.S. said Canada wouldn’t be charged additional tariffs as part of Trump’s Liberation Day announcements.

Earlier this year, B.C. Premier David Eby said British Columbians should rethink trips to the U.S. and purchases of American products.

ticrawford@postmedia.com

With files from Alec Lazenby