Canadian tourism to the US has sharply declined due to political tensions, affecting local economies in border states like Vermont, which is making symbolic gestures to attract Canadians back, but many Canadians remain hesitant to visit until stability improves.
A U.S. federal judge temporarily halted the deportation of hundreds of unaccompanied Guatemalan children, who were on the verge of being expelled without proper legal procedures, after a rushed operation by the U.S. government. The court's decision prevents their removal for 14 days to allow legal discussions, highlighting concerns over procedural fairness and the children's safety.
The unauthorized immigrant population in the U.S. reached a record 14 million in 2023, driven by migration from countries beyond Mexico, following the easing of Trump-era restrictions by the Biden administration, which led to increased border crossings and a political backlash as the number continues to rise into 2024.
Fewer Canadians are traveling to the U.S. this year, with a nearly 37% drop in return trips in July and a 17% decrease in visits from January to May, largely due to strained political relations and tariffs, impacting local businesses and the broader tourism economy.
Customs and Border Protection agents in the US searched nearly 15,000 devices at the border from April to June 2025, marking a 17% increase from previous records, highlighting ongoing concerns over privacy and border security powers.
Due to the northward spread of New World Screwworm in Mexico, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins has ordered the immediate closure of livestock ports along the southern border to prevent the pest's entry, as efforts to control and eradicate the disease are ongoing in Mexico.
U.S. border agents have confiscated 3,000 counterfeit Gibson guitars, highlighting ongoing issues with intellectual property violations and the import of fake goods. This seizure underscores the challenges faced by authorities in preventing the entry of counterfeit products into the country.
Encounters with unauthorized migrants at the U.S. border dropped 9% in May compared to April, with a 17% decrease from the same month last year. This decline comes ahead of new asylum restrictions announced by President Biden, who is under pressure to show effective immigration control. The Tucson, San Diego, and El Paso sectors reported the highest numbers of encounters, mostly involving single adults and Mexican nationals. Civil rights groups have criticized the new restrictions, warning they could lead to more dangerous border crossings.
Migrants are facing uncertainty and fear as the Biden administration enforces a new rule halting asylum processing when daily arrests for illegal crossings exceed 2,500. The first deportations under this rule have begun, affecting individuals from various countries including Mexico, Ecuador, and India. The measure will remain in place until daily arrests fall below 1,500 for a week. Many migrants, like Abigail Castillo and Sergio Franco, continue to hope for asylum despite the new restrictions, while others struggle with the overwhelmed CBP One app for legal entry.
Starting August 1, 2024, new CDC rules will require travelers bringing dogs into the U.S. to submit vet-approved documentation proving the dog is healthy, microchipped, and vaccinated against rabies. The process includes submitting forms days in advance, making spontaneous trips difficult. The changes aim to keep the U.S. rabies-free and address concerns over fraudulent documentation.
Stricter U.S. border regulations for dogs, effective August 1, could disrupt summer travel plans for Windsor-Essex residents. The new CDC rules require dogs entering the U.S. to be healthy, at least six months old, microchipped, and accompanied by a specific form and a rabies vaccination certificate signed by a veterinarian within 30 days before entry. These changes may complicate spontaneous travel and veterinary care across the border.
A US counter-terrorism official and experts have warned that ISIS-K terrorists could exploit the chaos at the US-Mexico border to carry out an attack similar to the Moscow concert hall mass shooting. With a sharp rise in encounters with suspects on the FBI’s terror watchlist at the border, concerns about ISIS-K operatives slipping through undetected are growing. While experts believe Europe is more likely to be targeted, the porous US borders present a substantial terror risk, with fears that sympathizers already in the US may be preparing to conduct a terror strike on the group’s behalf.
A federal judge has upheld the Biden administration's program that provides temporary legal status to citizens of Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, despite opposition from Texas and other Republican-led states. The program aims to discourage illegal crossings at the southern U.S. border, and the judge's decision noted a significant decrease in border crossings by nationals from the included countries. This ruling is seen as a victory for the White House and a setback for Texas in its efforts to influence immigration policy.
The killing of a Georgia nursing student has become a focal point in U.S. immigration politics, with former President Trump blaming President Biden's border policies for the tragedy and using it as a campaign issue. The debate over the nation's immigration system has intensified amid a surge in migration, with Trump and other Republicans ramping up anti-immigrant rhetoric. Democrats have expressed sorrow for the victim's death and criticized Trump for exploiting the tragedy for political gain. Studies have shown that immigrants are less likely to commit violent crimes than native-born citizens, but the issue remains a contentious one in U.S. politics.
Harshkumar Ramanlal Patel, also known as "Dirty Harry," has been arrested in Chicago on human smuggling charges, more than two years after a family of four from India froze to death while trying to enter the U.S. from Canada. Patel allegedly recruited a driver, Steve Shand, to transport migrants from the Canadian border to the Chicago area. The victims, identified as Jagdish and Vaishaliben Patel and their children, died from exposure near the border. Patel is believed to have organized the smuggling operation and has a history of illegal entry into the U.S.