The Canadian government is expected to take further action to address illegal immigration following US President-elect Donald Trump’s threat to impose a 25% tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico unless both countries take stronger measures against drugs and migrants entering the US.
Trump announced on Truth Social that he would sign an executive order on January 20th, imposing the tariff on all products coming into the US from Canada and Mexico. He said the tariff would remain in place “until drugs, particularly fentanyl, and all illegal aliens stop this invasion of our country.” Trump also stated that both countries had the power to solve the issue and demanded they take immediate action or face consequences.
This announcement comes amid growing concerns about illegal activities at the US-Canada border. In British Columbia, Canadian authorities recently arrested Gaganpreet Singh Randhawa, an Indian national allegedly involved in a large-scale drug lab producing fentanyl and methamphetamine for export, including to the US. In a separate case, Harshkumar Ramanlal Patel, another Indian-origin individual, was convicted for running a human smuggling operation that led to the deaths of a family of four who froze to death while attempting to cross the border.
In response, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has already signaled a shift in immigration policy. He acknowledged that Canada’s immigration system has been exploited by “bad actors” such as fake colleges and companies. Immigration Minister Marc Miller announced that Canada will reduce its immigration targets by 20%, aiming to admit around 395,000 permanent residents by 2025.
Vivek Ramaswamy, a newly appointed advisor to Trump, had previously called for building a wall along the Canadian border. Earlier this month, Tom Homan, the “border czar” selected by Trump, described the Canadian border as a “national security vulnerability” and suggested it could be a “gateway to terrorists.”
Trump’s comments, along with growing calls from US Republicans for stronger border enforcement, including proposals for increased patrols and a wall along the northern border, have prompted Canadian politicians to advocate for a unified, cross-party response to tackle illegal immigration and drug trafficking.
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