Canadian border Archives - Northwest Public Broadcasting

‘Welcome Back Loonies’: U.S. Reopens Border To Canadian Leisure Travelers

By Tom Banse November 9, 2021

Quebecois long-distance cyclist Jean-Francois Bienvenue soaked in the warm welcome Monday in Port Angeles, having previously waited in a holding pattern in British Columbia until the border reopened. "It's crazy, everybody is so happy," the Los Angeles-bound cyclist said.

There was cheering, celebration and emotional reunions along the northern border on Monday as the U.S. reopened its land and sea crossings to Canadian leisure travelers for the first time in 19 months. The international ferry between Port Angeles and Victoria began sailing again with all of its initial southbound trips sold out. Some border restrictions remain that could Read More

In A Hot NW Housing Market, Even Isolated Point Roberts Is Seeing Prices Sizzle

By Tom Banse August 16, 2021

The real estate market in Point Roberts, Washington, is hot despite the partial closure of the adjacent U.S.-Canada border.

How hot is the Pacific Northwest real estate market? So hot that even in an isolated exclave such as Point Roberts, Washington, home prices are sizzling and some properties are changing hands sight unseen. Continue Reading In A Read More

Couples And Families Separated By U.S.-Canada Border Closure Find Oasis At Peace Arch Park

By Tom Banse March 16, 2021

Crossing the border into Peace Arch State Park from Canada, at left, entails stepping across a ditch. CREDIT: Tom Banse/N3

This coming Sunday, March 21, will mark one year since the U.S. and Canada closed their shared border to nonessential crossings due to the pandemic. It's anybody's guess when the border might reopen for discretionary trips. In the meantime, every weekend rain or shine, Peace Arch State Park in Blaine, Washington, becomes a happening meetup point for couples and families Read More

U.S.-Canada Border Closure Likely To Be ‘With Us For Awhile’ As Pandemic Persists

By Tom Banse November 17, 2020

Peace Arch Park reportedly is the scene of lots of weddings this summer featuring Canadian-American couples seeking to ease their border crossing status.

The most recent extension of the U.S.-Canada border closure expires this Friday, November 21, but no one expects the restrictions to be lifted then. First implemented in March, the closure of the land and sea border to nonessential crossings have been extended monthly by mutual agreement between Ottawa and the Trump administration. Read More

U.S. Borders With Canada And Mexico Will Remain Closed At Least Another Month

By NPR News October 19, 2020

Bill Blair, Canada's public safety minister, tweeted on Monday, "We are extending non-essential travel restrictions with the United States until November 21st, 2020. Our decisions will continue to be based on the best public health advice available to keep Canadians safe." Read More

Ferry Service Boosted To Washington Town Of Point Roberts, Cut Off By U.S.-Canada Border Closure

By Tom Banse September 3, 2020

Point Roberts , Washington, on the southern tip British Columbia is stuck between a rock and a border closure during the pandemic. CREDIT: Esmy Jimenez/KUOW. Created with DataMapper

The Port of Bellingham is increasing temporary ferry service to the isolated enclave of Point Roberts, Washington. That community was largely cut off from the U.S. mainland when Canada and the U.S. closed their land border this spring to nonessential crossings to control the spread of the coronavirus. Read More

U.S. – Canada Border Restrictions Extended, Forcing Big Changes To Lives In Washington And B.C.

By Tom Banse August 19, 2020

The months-long closure of the U.S.-Canada border to non-essential crossings has been extended again. The border crossing restrictions will last at least until late September, probably longer, due to the pandemic. The outlook is leading people who used to cross regularly to make major life changes. Read More

Americans, Go Home: Canadians Track U.S. Boaters Sneaking Across The Border Around Vancouver

By NPR News August 4, 2020

View of the waterfront from Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada on January 20, 2020. The number of American pleasure craft arriving from Washington state has alarmed Canadians living just across the border. CREDIT: Mark Goodnow/AFP via Getty Images

U.S. pleasure boats have been sneaking into Canada despite a border shutdown. A group of Canadian retirees is on the lookout for violators from the "petri dish" that is America. Continue Reading Americans, Go Home: Read More

American-Iranians Say They Were Detained At U.S.-Canada Border. Federal Officials Deny It

By Esmy Jimenez January 7, 2020

The Peace Arch memorial monument in Blaine, Washington connects the U.S. and Canada as a port of entry. CREDIT: Wikimedia Commons

Sixty Iranian-Americans say they were detained at the American border with Canada this weekend, according to CAIR, the Council on American Islamic Relations. Two other attorneys at the border, unrelated to CAIR, made similar observations. Customs and Border Protection denies those reports. Read More

Border Patrol Bus Searches Spark Worry In Eastern Washington

By Murrow News - Kari Jakobsen March 20, 2019

The Spokane Intermodal Center has been a hot spot for U.S. Custom and Border Protection agents because of its close proximity to the Canadian border. Federal law allows agents to board buses and ask for documents within 100 miles of the border -- although passengers can refuse to talk without a lawyer or consent to a search. Read More

Border Crossing Hours To Be Shortened In Northeast Washington (But Not As Much As Proposed)

By Tom Banse July 25, 2018

Effective October 1, the Danville U.S. Border Station in northeastern Washington state will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.. It currently stays open until midnight. CREDIT: U.S. GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has finalized shorter hours for several border crossings in northeastern Washington state, effective this fall. The reduction in operating hours in one case was modified based on protests from the local community. Read More

Customs And Border Protection Plans To Decrease Hours For Northeastern Washington Crossing

By Emily Schwing July 10, 2018

The U.S. - Canada border crossing at Danville, Washington will soon see reduced hours due to a U.S. change in hours beginning October 1: CREDIT: U.S. GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection plans to reduce operating hours at a border crossing between Danville, and Grand Forks, British Columbia, and residents in Ferry County, Washington aren’t pleased. Continue Reading Read More