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Canadian Border Tightens Due to Info Sharing

Posted by Zonk on from the helpful-tech-making-life-more-annoying dept.

blu3 b0y writes "The San Francisco Chronicle is reporting that new information sharing agreements have made it as easy for a Canadian border officer to know the full criminal records of US citizens as it is for their local police. As a result, Canadian officials are turning away American visitors for ancient minor convictions, including 30-year-old shoplifting and minor drug possession convictions. Officials claim it's always been illegal to enter Canada with such convictions without getting special dispensation, they just had no good way of knowing about them until recent security agreements allowed access. One attorney speculates it's not long before this information will be shared with other countries as well, causing immigration hassles worldwide."

3 of 448 comments (clear)

  1. Welcome to Canada! by xdroop · · Score: 5, Interesting
    Hilarious that Americans are offended now that Canada is holding them to the same standard that American Boarder Services holds people wanting to enter the States. The difference is that even if you get an official Pardon in Canada -- Boarder Services doesn't recognize it! At least Americans have the potential to wipe the slate clean.

    Hah!

    --
    you should read everything on the internet as if it had "but I'm probably talking out of my ass" appended to it.
  2. hmm by xjmrufinix · · Score: 4, Interesting

    So if you were convicted for dodging the Vietnam draft by going to Canada, which the Canadian government allowed, would you be banned from returning now?

  3. As an American, this is good news by analog_line · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Finally, people are starting to give us back as good as we are giving them. It's about time. What's good for the goose is good for the gander. Hopefully every country will start applying the full standard and stopping US government officials they don't like from entering as well. Then maybe we'll see some change here, and possibly a little humility.

    You foreigners have been way too cowardly, refusing standing up for yourselves against my government. Get some fucking backbone.