Arrests and detentions of Canadians in U.S. spiked last year, report shows

Global Affairs Canada reported a significant rise in arrests and detentions of Canadian citizens, increasing by 60% between April 2025 and March 2026, despite a 25% decline in visits to the U.S. The report does not offer an explanation for this surge but notes that U.S. President Donald Trump's expansion of immigration raids could be contributing to the issue. Additionally, Canadians have reported facing more intrusive questioning from U.S. border officials. Notably, there was also a threefold increase in arrests involving Canadians in Thailand, adding to the global complexity of consular cases. The department has been warning about the growing number and intricacy of these incidents due to wars and natural disasters, making management more challenging and costly. Moreover, the report highlights an uptick in voluntary registrations by Canadians when traveling abroad, aiding Ottawa in providing safety advice and coordinating evacuations better.