American government officials in Donald Trump White House is actively discussing troops near the Canadian border in light of US concerns about border security in a pandemic coronavirus, sources tell Brampton News.
Few people crossing from Canada into the United States at no point authorized each year but the aim of the policy will help guard the border crossers detect irregular, sources said.
While the White House pushes for this, no decision has been made.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau confirmed the news while providing daily briefings to journalists from Rideau Cottage, admitted that the conversation is in progress.
“Canada and the United States have a un-militarized border in the world’s longest and very much in both of our interests for it to stay that way,” he said.
Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland also weighed shortly afterward during a briefing with reporters, said that the Canadian cabinet ministers and diplomats have been working to try to make it clear to the Americans that this is not the plan of Canada support.
“Canada strongly opposed the US proposal, and we have made very clear with our US counterparts,” he said, noting Canadian officials first learned of the proposal “a few days ago.”
“We are very directly and very forcefully expressing the view I shared a moment ago which is that in Canada’s view, this is an entirely unnecessary step which we will view as damaging to our relationship.”
Brampton News has asked the White House to comment on this story but has not received a response.
Trump was asked about this proposal during his COVID-19 task force daily briefing.
“We have very strong deployments on the southern border, as you know, Mexico, and we have some troops up in Canada, but I’ll find out about that,” he said.
“I guess it’s equal justice to a certain extent, but in Canada, we do have troops along the border.”
Trump then mentioned trade with Canada and how the U.S. doesn’t “like steel coming through our border.”
Any militarization on or near the Canadian border would be a stark departure from traditional relations between the two countries as the Canadian-US border has traditionally been recognized as one of the longest non-militarized borders in the world.
The proposal has raised diplomatic concerns on both sides of the border.
While the move would be temporary — lasting only as long as the coronavirus pandemic — some in Washington are concerned about Canadian reaction and the precedent set by sending troops to their northern and southern borders, sources told Brampton News.
If the plans come to fruition, Brampton News has learned troops would be stationed about 30 kilometers from the border between official points of entry and would use sensor technology to detect irregular crossers before passing on the information to border patrol agents.
Under the proposed scenario, the troops would not have the authority to arrest or detain anyone, sources say. Instead, border patrol agents would be sent to intercept the irregular crossers.
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