Canada and U.S. sign border accord

OTTAWA, Ont. (Dec. 4, 2001) — The Canadian and U.S. governments signed an agreement yesterday on a plan to strengthen security at the border while getting more trucks moving through again.

The accord, sparked by economic and security concerns following the Sept. 11 attacks, was signed by U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft and Canadian Solicitor General Lawrence MacAulay.

The agreement includes plans to integrate surveillance of people and goods crossing the border, including a shared fingerprint database. The plan will expand integrated border enforcement teams, adding Canadian officials to the U.S. foreign terrorist tracking task force, and tightening the visa entry process.

In addition, the United States will increase the federal and military presence along the 4,000-mile border. More than 400 National Guard troops are being deployed to 43 land, sea and air ports of entry in 12 states. Military helicopters will also patrol the border.

Currently, only about 500 U.S. agents are stationed at the U.S.-Canadian border. In comparison, there are 9,000 on the Mexican border, which is about half the size.

Although Ashcroft stressed the move is not a “militarization” of the border, the mobilization of troops has been criticized by several Canadian politicians who fear the worlds longest undefended border will now become the world’s longest armed border.