MONTREAL –
A dispute over legal protections for U.S. customs officials has closed Nexus enrollment centers in Canada more than three months after they reopened south of the border — in part because of a clash over the right of U.S. agents to carry guns on Canadian soil.
The standoff has led to a huge backlog of applications for the program, which allows pre-approved travelers to cross the border more quickly.
The Canada Border Services Agency says the number of Nexus applications has grown from 270,000 in April to more than 341,000 at a time when travel delays are wreaking havoc on travelers’ summer plans.
Agency spokeswoman Rebecca Purdy said in an email that Canada and the U.S. remain “in discussions” about when the 13 enrollment centers will reopen for applicant interviews as the two sides try to clarify “legal protections” for U.S. customs officials. while working in the centers with joint staff.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection confirmed that the hold revolved around legal protections for employees at the Nexus office, saying in an email that “one example may include the authority to carry or have access to a firearm while on service”.
Two senior Canadian government sources told The Canadian Press that the U.S. wants its customs officials who work at Nexus centers to have the same protections guaranteed as its other preclearance officers on Canadian soil, with weapons a major sticking point in negotiations.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published on July 22, 2022.
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