U.S. border guards may soon be granted powers to question, search and detain Canadian citizens on their own soil, under a new bill proposed in Canada. Controversial bill C-23, introduced by the liberal government, is expected to pass through parliament. The new law will see the erosion of rights given to Canadian permanent residents by allowing U.S. authorities to strip away their ability to enter the country. Cbc.ca reports: The bill would enshrine in law a reciprocal agreement for customs and immigration pre-clearance signed by the governments of Stephen Harper and Barack Obama in 2015. Both houses of Congress passed the U.S. version of the bill in December. Michael Greene, an immigration lawyer in Calgary, says C-23 takes away an important right found in the existing law. “A Canadian going to the U.S. through a pre-clearance area [on Canadian soil] can say: ‘I don’t like the way [an interview is] going and I’ve chosen not to visit your country.’ And they can just turn around and walk out. “Under the new proposed bill, they wouldn’t be able to walk out. They can be held and forced to answer questions, first to identify themselves, which is not so offensive, but secondly, to explain the reasons for [...]
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