(Hill) – The US has ever cracked down on long-term visits from Canadians and has requested US visitors more than 30 days to register with the government.
People over the age of 14 will also be required to apply for fingerprints with authorities, according to a mandate uploaded to the federal register on Wednesday. They are submitting existing laws that Canadians were normally exempt.
The move is as Canada, Mexico and the United States remain caught up in a trade war that has spurred President Donald Trump’s new taxation on imports from both countries.
Countries have tried to impose retaliatory measures while agreeing to work with Trump to address his concerns about the influx of fentanyl, an addictive, deadly opioid he has promised to wipe out.
The rules came into effect on April 11th and are set to affect 900,000 Canadians. Canadians take vacations in the US during the winter to escape the cold. Previous practices only required individuals who flew across the border to register with the government.
Those who fail to comply may face misdemeanor prosecution, resulting in a fine of up to $5,000 or a sentence of up to 30 days. The authorities also reserve the right to impose both punishments at the same time.
This new requirement only allows one exemption that applies to Canadian-born American Indians who entered the United States under Section 289 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, and members of Texas Band members who entered the United States under the Kickapoo Act of Texas are not required to register.
The regulations “advance the Trump administration’s measures to crack down on illegal immigration through protecting Americans from executive orders of invasion that seek to eliminate all documentary barriers, expansion tactics, or other restrictions that prevent the rapid re-return of foreigners to the nation.”
