National

Republicans shift gaze toward Canada-U.S. border

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 27 Feb, 2023 10:56 AM

WASHINGTON - A group of Republicans on Capitol Hill is turning its gaze towards Canada as it ramps up political criticism of President Joe Biden's immigration strategy.

Rep. Mike Kelly from Pennsylvania and Montana Rep. Ryan Zinke are launching a new congressional caucus focused on immigration, crime and national security at the Canada-U.S. border.

🚨NEW🚨
I'm chairing the new Northern Border Security Caucus with @RepRyanZinke. The numbers don’t lie: the Biden administration’s open-border policies have allowed for a surge in human & drug trafficking from Canada into the U.S. Details on our efforts⬇️https://t.co/REqKD9wQOR
— Rep. Mike Kelly (@MikeKellyPA) February 27, 2023

The "Northern Border Security Caucus," to be officially announced Tuesday, is being billed as bipartisan, although it's unclear if any of its 28 members are Democrats.

Republicans in Congress are usually far more focused on the U.S.-Mexico border, where illegal immigration is one of the Biden administration's weakest political flanks.

But that may be changing, thanks to a steady increase in the number of "encounters" being reported at or near the Canadian frontier with people in the country illegally.

From October through January, U.S. Customs and Border Protection recorded 55,736 such encounters, more than half of the total number from the 2022 fiscal year.

Caucus members "are concerned about the increased human and drug trafficking, along with the decrease in Border Patrol agents and lack of security, along the U.S.-Canada border," Kelly's office said in a news release.

"Recent news reports, along with data compiled over the past two years, show a surge in illegal migrant crossings and drug trafficking across the northern border."

House Republicans expected to attend Tuesday's launch include North Dakota Rep. Kelly Armstrong, Minnesota Rep. Pete Stauber, Rep. Claudia Tenney of New York, Michigan Rep. Lisa McClain and Rep. Tony Gonzales of Texas.

Officials from the National Border Patrol Council, the union that represents U.S. Border Patrol agents, are also expected to attend Tuesday's event, including vice-president and Fox News fixture Hector Garza.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

International student rules need reset: RBC paper

According to a separate RBC Economics report, businesses posted almost 70 per cent more job openings in Canada as of June 2022, compared to pre-pandemic. But these firms were competing for 13 per cent fewer unemployed workers than were available in February 2020.

International student rules need reset: RBC paper

Health Canada approves Omicron shot

The new shots approved by Health Canada, called bivalent vaccines, are designed to recognize specific mutations in the spike protein of the Omicron BA.1 subvariant. Shipments of the vaccine are expected to arrive in the next few days, and there will be enough supply for all Canadians 18 and older to get a dose this fall and winter, officials said.

Health Canada approves Omicron shot

One man dies in Newtown after an altercation takes place, area blocked off

On Wednesday, at 1:50 p.m., Surrey RCMP responded to 14100-block of 61 Avenue after a report of an altercation between two men. Upon arrival police found an adult male in medical distress. Despite all attempts by first responders to save the man’s life, he succumbed to his injuries on scene.

One man dies in Newtown after an altercation takes place, area blocked off

Suspicious incident being investigated in New Westminster

The passenger is described as a South Asian male, 6’0’ tall, medium build, approximately 35 to 40 years old, with a trimmed beard, and wearing a black jacket. There was no description provided for the driver.

Suspicious incident being investigated in New Westminster

Chilliwack RCMP need the public's help in identifying three children involved in suspicious occurrence at Portage Park

The boys are described as approximately eight to ten years old. It is possible that they had a skateboard and a scooter and departed toward Menzies Street. The girl is approximately eight years old. the man involved in Friday’s incident at Portage Park is not believed to be related to a previous report of suspicious activity on Cedar Creek Drive.

Chilliwack RCMP need the public's help in identifying three children involved in suspicious occurrence at Portage Park

B.C. 911 dispatcher union calls for more funding

Emergency Communications Professionals of BC said in a news release that staffing shortages have forced call takers to work "well beyond" their normal hours, which it believes is unsustainable. The temporary provisions are set to expire Sept. 21, while the added mental health supports end in December, the union said.