How the U.S. and Canada Share Immigration Data—and Why a Removal Follows You

In this episode of The Rule of Law Brief, Nate Charles examines the unusually deep, often underestimated level of immigration and security cooperation between the United States and Canada. Drawing from his own connection to the St. Lawrence River and his service alongside Canadian officers in Afghanistan, he explains why the U.S.–Canada relationship is unlike any other—and why immigration actions taken in one country reverberate powerfully across the border.

This episode takes a candid look at the mechanisms that make the two countries’ immigration systems effectively interoperable. From shared biometrics and enforcement data to the structure and purpose of the Safe Third Country Agreement, Nate details how—and why—each country tracks travelers’ movements, asylum claims, and adverse immigration events originating in the other jurisdiction.

For travelers, practitioners, and policymakers, the implications are significant:

* Immigration violations such as expedited removal, misrepresentation findings, or failed entries do not remain isolated within one country.

* Both nations receive and act on each other’s enforcement data in real time.

* The Safe Third Country Agreement directly shapes how asylum seekers are processed, screened, and routed.

* Secondary inspection, admissibility questioning, or outright refusal can arise on either side of the border when a traveler has recent issues in the other system.

This episode offers a straightforward assessment of what travelers should expect when moving between two countries that treat their shared border as a coordinated security environment. If your clients have immigration histories in the U.S. or Canada—or if you’re managing cross-border travel risk—this is essential situational awareness.

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