by Natasha Lair
Last updated: 12:00 PM ET, Mon April 21, 2025
Canadian travellers — including journalists, academics, and sports fans — are grappling with the news of intensified scrutiny at U.S. borders, prompting new advisories and growing personal and professional dilemmas over whether to cross into the United States.
Journalists and Academics Urged to Use Caution
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), a U.S.-based non-profit headquartered in New York City, issued a safety advisory on April 17, 2025, warning journalists about an increase in digital and personal inspections at U.S. ports of entry.
Newsweek reports that these guidelines aim to help journalists ready themselves for potential searches, surveillance, detention, or entry denial at U.S. border checkpoints.
The advisory highlights growing concerns about U.S. border agents reviewing social media accounts and confiscating electronic devices — all without requiring a warrant.
This has raised red flags among media professionals, particularly those travelling with sensitive data or reporting equipment.
“They’re more aggressively looking at people, social media accounts, their phones, their laptops, or tablets,” Toronto-based immigration lawyer Ravi Jain told CTV News. He now advises clients to consider travelling with wipeable devices or burner phones.
The Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT), which represents more than 72,000 academic staff, issued its own advisory, urging members to reconsider non-essential travel to the U.S.
The move follows recent crackdowns on students and activists allegedly affiliated with Palestinian advocacy and broader concerns about academic freedom under the Trump administration’s second term.
Hockey Fans Torn as Playoffs Heat Up
Canadian hockey fans are finding themselves caught between patriotism and passion as the NHL playoffs draw cross-border crowds.
Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa, Winnipeg and Edmonton made the NHL playoffs this year, with Montreal to begin Round 1 in Washington this week.
Jack Gurevitch, a devoted Montreal Canadiens fan, shared his internal conflict with Coast Reporter.
“I shared with my sister my opinion, and she went, ‘Absolutely not. Do not go. Do not go into the United States during this time. It's not being patriotic. It's not being a good Canadian.’ I just kind of disagree with her.”
Meanwhile, others like Habs superfan Sunil Peetush are taking a different view after a recent trip.
“We just didn't feel right as Canadians. We felt like we were betraying our country," he told CTV.
"We have a cruise booked in August and it's going to Alaska, and we haven't really decided whether we're going to do it or not."
Real Economic Impact
The U.S. is already feeling the ripple effects. Detroit, a city heavily reliant on Canadian tourism, saw a 13% drop in border crossings in February and March compared to 2024. Flight bookings between Canada and the U.S. are down, as well.
The shift might have a significant economic impact, with one Wall Street firm projecting U.S. revenue could collapse by as much as $90 billion this year when combined with reduced travel and U.S. product boycotts., reports NBC News.
Canadian Government Weighs In
The Government of Canada has updated its travel advisory, noting that while Canadians typically enjoy visa-free entry into the U.S., they are not immune to questioning, searches, or even denial of entry.
Travellers are advised to be prepared for delays and to ensure their devices contain no sensitive information.
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