Fear at the Border: Why Canadian Travel to the U.S. Is Declining Sharply

Canadian visits to the United States have seen a significant decline, with increasing numbers of Canadians cancelling travel plans due to heightened fears over U.S. border policies, especially under the Trump administration.
A growing wave of apprehension is prompting many Canadians to rethink travel to the United States, leading to a steep drop in cross-border visits. The reasons range from economic concerns to political tension — but increasingly, it is fear that’s holding them back.

Arash Abizadeh, a political science professor at McGill University in Montreal, recently cancelled his trip to speak at a conference in North Carolina. His decision was fueled by concerns over being scrutinized or detained at the U.S. border. “Why would we subject ourselves to this?” he questioned, pointing out the uncertainty faced even by law-abiding citizens. He expressed anxiety over how even past social media posts critical of the U.S. administration could be held against travellers.

This fear is reflected in national statistics. In March, Canadian return travel to the U.S. fell significantly — air travel was down by 13.5%, and land travel plunged by 32% compared to the previous year. Factors include a weak Canadian dollar and dissatisfaction with former President Donald Trump’s trade policies. But a key contributor appears to be the administration’s tightened immigration enforcement and border control.

Reports of foreign nationals being detained — some for over a week — have intensified these concerns. Canadian citizen Jasmine Mooney, for example, was recently held for 11 days after being denied a work visa at the U.S.-Mexico border. “I got put into real jail. It was just like the movies,” she said, recounting her traumatic experience.

U.S. immigration attorney Len Saunders noted a shift in policy. Under previous administrations, visa issues typically resulted in travellers being sent home — not jailed. “Now, there’s virtually no discretion. It’s maximum enforcement,” Saunders observed.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), however, defended the actions, stating that measures are in place to protect national security and only target those attempting to enter the country under false pretenses. “Lawful travellers have nothing to fear,” said CBP Assistant Commissioner Hilton Beckham.

Despite that assurance, concern persists — especially among critics of the Trump administration. Jennifer Love, a dual U.S.-Canadian citizen and chemistry professor at the University of Calgary, also cancelled plans to attend a conference in Hawaii. She worries her vocal support of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) — and her criticism of Trump on social media — might make her a target. The Trump administration has taken steps to dismantle DEI programs, calling them discriminatory.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s some profile on me,” said Love, adding that she fears her detention could be used to send a message to other outspoken academics.

For Iranian Canadians, the situation is especially concerning. The Trump administration’s proposed travel ban on Iran has left many feeling unwelcome. Atlas Travel, a Toronto-based agency catering to the Iranian Canadian community, has seen a dramatic drop in U.S.-bound bookings. “They feel unwelcome,” said manager Azin Mohager, noting that many clients have been interrogated at the border and forced to reveal their social media activity.

Abizadeh, who is of Iranian descent, says the lack of transparency at the border creates an atmosphere of fear. Even participating in an interview with the media, he suggested, could put someone at risk of being flagged.

“I wouldn’t be doing this interview if I had plans to travel to the U.S.,” he admitted.

Amid rising anxiety, the Canadian government has updated its travel advisory for the U.S., now warning citizens to “expect scrutiny” — including the possibility of being detained or having their phones searched at the border.

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