The association that represents academic staff at Canadian universities on Tuesday warned its members against nonessential travel to the US.
The Canadian Association of University Teachers released updated travel advice due to the “political landscape” created by US President Donald Trump’s administration and reports of some Canadians encountering difficulties crossing the border.
The association said academics from countries that have tense diplomatic relations with the US or who have themselves expressed negative views about the Trump administration should be particularly cautious about US travel.
Photo: Reuters
Its warning is particularly targeted to academics who identify as transgender or “whose research could be seen as being at odds with the position of the current US administration.”
In addition, the association said that academics should carefully consider what information they have, or need to have, on their electronic devices when crossing the border, and take actions to protect sensitive information.
The Canadian government recently updated its US travel advisory, warning residents they might face scrutiny from border guards and the possibility of detention if denied entry.
Crossings from Canada into the US dropped by about 32 percent, or by 864,000 travelers, last month compared with the same month a year ago, US Customs and Border Protection data showed.
Many Canadians are furious about Trump’s annexation threats and trade war, but also worried about entering the US.
David Robinson, executive director of the association, said that the warning is the first time his group has advised against nonessential US travel in the 11 years he has worked with it.
“It’s clear there’s been heightened scrutiny of people entering the United States, and ... a heightened kind of political screening of people entering the country,” said Robinson, whose association represents 70,000 teachers, librarians, researchers, general staff and other academic professionals at 122 universities and colleges.
Robinson said that the group made the decision after taking legal advice in recent weeks.
He said lawyers told the group that US border searches can compromise confidential information obtained by academics during their research.
The association would keep the warning in place until it sees “the end of political screening and there is more respect for confidential information on electronic devices,” he said.
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