In the 1990s, US Got Tough on Both Land Borders–and Canada Responded

In response to the first World Trade Center bombing, Congress passed a law in 1996 requiring that U.S. border officials keep a record of everyone who enters or exits the United States. Along with some in the United States who disagreed with the new rules, Canada fought the implementation of the measure, fearing border traffic jams that would damage trade. As a result, entry/exit controls were not in place on September 11, 2001 and neither U.S. administration officials nor the Canadians had the moral authority to resist congressional demands for remedial measures to tighten border security. Canada had to scramble to reestablish its reputation as a reliable neighbor.

The lesson here is that trust is necessary if borders are to be managed in a more open manner. Trust between security personnel in the U.S. government and its foreign counterpart, but also the American public’s trust that the U.S. government is taking border security seriously.