Canada–United States border

"Borders of Canada" redirects here. For the Canada–Greenland border, see Hans Island. For the Canada–France border, see Green Island (Fortune), Newfoundland and Labrador. For Canadian Arctic boundary waters, see Canadian sovereignty § Arctic border.

The border between Canada and the United States is the longest international border in the world.^[a] The terrestrial boundary (including boundaries in the Great Lakes, Atlantic, and Pacific coasts) is 8,891 km (5,525 mi) long. The land border has two sections: Canada's border with the contiguous United States to its south, and with the U.S. state of Alaska to its west. The bi-national International Boundary Commission deals with matters relating to marking and maintaining the boundary, and the International Joint Commission deals with issues concerning boundary waters. The agencies currently responsible for facilitating legal passage through the international boundary are the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

Canada–United States border
The Peace Arch at the border between Surrey, British Columbia and Blaine, Washington
Characteristics
Entities	Canada  United States
Length	8,891 km (5,525 mi)
History
Established	September 3, 1783 Signing of the Treaty of Paris at the end of the American War of Independence
Current shape	April 11, 1908 Treaty of 1908
Treaties	Treaty of Paris Jay Treaty Treaty of 1818 Webster–Ashburton Treaty Oregon Treaty
Notes	See list of current disputes

v t e Canada–United States border
Legend
Arctic Ocean Beaufort Sea Continental Divide Arctic Basin Pacific Basin Porcupine River Arctic Circle Yukon River Poker Creek–Little Gold Creek Alcan–Beaver Creek Yukon British Columbia Dalton Cache–Pleasant Camp Skagway–Fraser White Pass and Yukon Route Hyder–Stewart Ketchikan (AMH) Portland Canal Alaska Marine Highway Dixon Entrance Alaska, United States British Columbia, Canada Prince Rupert (AMH) British Columbia, Canada Washington, United States Strait of Juan de Fuca Port Angeles–Victoria Ferry Puget Sound Seattle–Victoria Ferry Haro Strait Friday Harbor–Sidney Ferry Anacortes–Sidney Ferry Boundary Pass Bellingham (AMH) Strait of Georgia Point Roberts–Boundary Bay Boundary Bay Amtrak Cascades Peace Arch Border Crossing Pacific Highway Border Crossing Lynden–Aldergrove Sumas–Huntingdon Nighthawk–Chopaka Ross Lake Silver Skagit Road Pacific Crest Trail Pasayten River Oroville–Osoyoos Osoyoos Lake Ferry–Midway Danville–Carson Laurier–Cascade Frontier–Paterson Columbia River Boundary–Waneta Pend Oreille River Metaline Falls–Nelway Washington Idaho Kootenay River Porthill-Rykerts Eastport–Kingsgate Idaho Montana Lake Koocanusa Eureka–Roosville North Fork Flathead River Continental Divide Pacific Basin | British Columbia Hudson Bay Basin | Alberta Continental Divide Trail Waterton Lake Chief Mountain Border Crossing Piegan–Carway St. Mary River Laurentian Divide Hudson Bay Basin Gulf of Mexico Basin Del Bonita Border Crossing Milk River Sweetgrass–Coutts Whitlash–Aden Milk River Wild Horse Border Crossing Alberta Saskatchewan Willow Creek Border Crossing Turner–Climax Morgan–Monchy Opheim–West Poplar River Scobey–Coronach Raymond–Regway Montana North Dakota Fortuna–Oungre Laurentian Divide Gulf of Mexico Basin Hudson Bay Basin Ambrose–Torquay Noonan–Estevan Highway Portal–North Portal Northgate Border Crossing Souris River Sherwood–Carievale Saskatchewan Manitoba Antler–Lyleton Westhope–Coulter Souris River Carbury–Goodlands Dunseith–Boissevain St. John–Lena Hansboro–Cartwright Sarles–Crystal City Hannah–Snowflake Maida–Windygates Walhalla–Winkler Neche–Gretna Pembina–Emerson Red River of the North North Dakota Minnesota Lancaster–Tolstoi Pinecreek–Piney Roseau–South Junction Warroad–Sprague Lake of the Woods Northwest Angle Manitoba Ontario Rainy River Baudette–Rainy River International Falls–Fort Frances Rainy Lake Kettle Falls Dam Namakan Lake Sand Point Lake Little Vermillion Lake Loon River Loon Lake Lac La Croix Bottle River Bottle Lake Iron Lake Crooked Lake Basswood River Basswood Lake Sucker Lake Birch Lake Carp Lake Knife River Knife Lake Ottertrack Lake Monument Portage Swamp Lake Saganaga Lake Maraboeuf Lake Gneiss Lake Granite River Clove Lake Pine River Magnetic Lake Gunflint Lake Little Gunflint Lake Little North Lake North Lake Height of Land Portage over the Laurentian Divide Hudson Bay Basin St. Lawrence Basin South Lake Rat Lake Rose Lake Arrow River Rove Lake Watap Lake Watap Portage Mountain Lake Pigeon River Moose Lake Fowl Lake Pigeon River Grand Portage–Pigeon River Lake Superior Minnesota Michigan St. Marys River Sault Sainte Marie Border Crossing Soo Locks Lake Huron St. Clair River Port Huron–Sarnia Walpole–Algonac Ferry Lake St. Clair Detroit River Detroit–Windsor tunnel Ambassador Bridge Detroit–Windsor Truck Ferry Lake Erie Michigan Ohio Sandusky–Pelee Ferry Ohio Pennsylvania Pennsylvania New York Niagara River Peace Bridge Horseshoe Falls (Niagara Falls) Rainbow Bridge Whirlpool Rapids Bridge Maple Leaf Lewiston–Queenston Bridge Lake Ontario Cape Vincent–Wolfe Island Ferry St. Lawrence River Thousand Islands Border Crossing Ogdensburg–Prescott Three Nations Crossing Ontario Quebec Fort Covington–Dundee Trout River Border Crossing Chateaugay–Herdman Churubusco–Franklin Centre Cannon Corners–Covey Hill Mooers–Hemmingford Champlain–St. Bernard de Lacolle Overton Corners–Lacolle 221 Adirondack Rouses Point–Lacolle 223 Lake Champlain New York Vermont Alburgh–Noyan Montrealer Discontinued / Proposed Alburg Springs–Clarenceville Missisquoi Bay Highgate Springs– St. Armand/Philipsburg Morses Line Border Crossing West Berkshire–Frelighsburg Pinnacle Road–East Pinnacle Richford–Abercorn East Richford–Glen Sutton North Troy–Highwater Lake Memphremagog Beebe Plain–Beebe Derby Line–Stanstead Derby Line–Rock Island Norton–Stanhope St. Lawrence River Divide St. Lawrence Basin Atlantic Basin Canaan–Hereford Road Beecher Falls–East Hereford Halls Stream Vermont New Hampshire Pittsburg–Chartierville New Hampshire Maine Coburn Gore–Woburn Armstrong–Jackman St. Zacharie Border Crossing Little Saint John Lake Southwest Branch Saint John River St. Aurelie Maine–St. Aurelie Saint Just de Bretenières– St. Juste Maine Saint Pamphile Border Crossing Estcourt Station–Pohénégamook Saint Francis River Quebec New Brunswick Saint John River Fort Kent–Clair Madawaska–Edmundston Van Buren–St. Leonard Hamlin–Grand Falls Limestone - Gillespie Portage Four Falls Border Crossing Aroostook River Fort Fairfield–Andover Easton–River de Chute Bridgewater–Centreville Monticello–Bloomfield Houlton–Woodstock Monument Brook North Lake North Lake Thoroughfare Grand Lake Orient–Fosterville Forest City Stream Forest City Border Crossing Mud Lake Mud Lake Stream Spednic Lake St. Croix River Vanceboro–St. Croix Grand Falls Dam Woodland Dam International Avenue Border Crossing Calais–Milltown Ferry Point Border Crossing Passamaquoddy Bay Western Passage Eastport–Deer Island Ferry Lubec Narrows Lubec–Campobello Grand Manan Channel Bay of Fundy New Brunswick Nova Scotia Bar Harbor–Yarmouth Ferry Gulf of Maine Atlantic Ocean

History

18th century

 

The 45th parallel (marked in red) was established as a border between the Province of Quebec and the United States in the Treaty of Paris

The Treaty of Paris of 1783 ended the American Revolutionary War between Great Britain and the United States. In the second article of the Treaty, the parties agreed on all boundaries of the United States, including, but not limited to, the boundary to the north along then-British North America. The agreed-upon boundary included the line from the northwest angle of Nova Scotia to the northwesternmost head of the Connecticut River and proceeded down along the middle of the river to the 45th parallel of north latitude.

The parallel had been established in the 1760s as the boundary between the provinces of Quebec and New York (including what would later become the State of Vermont). It was surveyed and marked by John Collins and Thomas Valentine from 1771 to 1773.^[1]

The St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes became the boundary further west, between the United States and what is now Ontario. Northwest of Lake Superior, the boundary followed rivers to the Lake of the Woods. From the northwesternmost point of the Lake of the Woods, the boundary was agreed to go straight west until it met the Mississippi River. In fact, that line never meets the river since the river's source is further south.

Jay Treaty (1794)

The Jay Treaty of 1794 (effective 1796) created the International Boundary Commission, which was charged with surveying and mapping the boundary. It also provided for the removal of British military and administration from Detroit, as well as other frontier outposts on the U.S. side. The Jay Treaty was superseded by the Treaty of Ghent (effective 1815) concluding the War of 1812, which included pre-war boundaries.

19th century

 

Signing of the Treaty of Ghent in 1814, which ended the War of 1812 and returned the border to its pre-war state. Subsequent treaties agreed upon saw the border demilitarized, and most boundary disputes resolved.

Signed in December 1814, the Treaty of Ghent ended the War of 1812, returning the boundaries of British North America and the United States to the state they were prior to the war. In the following decades, the United States and the United Kingdom concluded several treaties that settled the major boundary disputes between the two, enabling the border to be demilitarized. The Rush–Bagot Treaty of 1817 provided a plan for demilitarizing the two combatant sides in the War of 1812 and also laid out preliminary principles for drawing a border between British North America and the United States.

London Convention (1818)

The Treaty of 1818 saw expansion of both British North America and the US, where the boundary extended westward along the 49th parallel, from the Northwest Angle at Lake of the Woods to the Rocky Mountains. The treaty extinguished British claims to the south of that line up to the Red River Valley, which was part of Rupert's Land. The treaty also extinguished U.S. claims to land north of that line in the watershed of the Missouri River, which was part of the Louisiana Purchase. This amounted to three small areas, consisting of the northern part of the drainages of the Milk River (today in southern Alberta and southwestern Saskatchewan), the Poplar River (Saskatchewan), and Big Muddy Creek (Saskatchewan).^{[citation needed]} Along the 49th parallel, the border vista is theoretically straight, but in practice follows the 19th-century surveyed border markers and varies by several hundred feet in spots.^[2]

Webster–Ashburton Treaty (1842)

 

Disputed territory between British North America and Maine marked in pink. The dispute was settled in the Webster-Ashburton Treaty in 1842. The green line on the map marks the final border.

Disputes over the interpretation of the border treaties and mistakes in surveying required additional negotiations, which resulted in the Webster–Ashburton Treaty of 1842. The treaty resolved the Aroostook War, a dispute over the boundary between Maine, New Brunswick, and the Province of Canada. The treaty redefined the border between New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York on the one hand, and the Province of Canada on the other, resolving the Indian Stream dispute and the Fort Blunder dilemma at the outlet to Lake Champlain.

The part of the 45th parallel that separates Quebec from the U.S. states of Vermont and New York had first been surveyed from 1771 to 1773 after it had been declared the boundary between New York (including what later became Vermont) and Quebec. It was surveyed again after the War of 1812. The U.S. federal government began to construct fortifications just south of the border at Rouses Point, New York, on Lake Champlain. After a significant portion of the construction was completed, measurements revealed that at that point, the actual 45th parallel was three-quarters of a mile (1.2 km) south of the surveyed line. The fort, which became known as "Fort Blunder", was in Canada, which created a dilemma for the U.S. that was not resolved until a provision of the treaty left the border on the meandering line as surveyed. The border along the Boundary Waters in present-day Ontario and Minnesota between Lake Superior and the Northwest Angle was also redefined.^[3][4]

Oregon Treaty (1846)

Main article: Oregon Treaty

 

Map of the disputed Oregon Country, with the American and British claims marked. The dispute was settled in the Oregon Treaty, placing the boundary along the 49th parallel.

An 1844 boundary dispute during the Presidency of James K. Polk led to a call for the northern boundary of the U.S. west of the Rockies to be 54°40′N related to the southern boundary of Russia's Alaska Territory. However, Great Britain wanted a border that followed the Columbia River to the Pacific Ocean. The dispute was resolved in the Oregon Treaty of 1846, which established the 49th parallel as the boundary through the Rockies.^[5][6]

Boundary surveys (mid–19th century)

The Northwest Boundary Survey (1857–1861) laid out the land boundary. However, the water boundary was not settled for some time. After the Pig War in 1859, arbitration in 1872 established the border between the Gulf Islands and the San Juan Islands.

The International Boundary Survey (or, the "Northern Boundary Survey" in the US) began in 1872.^[7] Its mandate was to establish the border as agreed to in the Treaty of 1818. Archibald Campbell led the way for the United States, while Donald Cameron, supported by chief astronomer Samuel Anderson, headed the British team. This survey focused on the border from the Lake of the Woods to the summit of the Rocky Mountains.^[8]

20th century

 

An International Boundary Commission reference monument at the Pigeon River

In 1903, following a dispute that arose because of the Klondike Gold Rush, a joint United Kingdom–Canada–U.S. tribunal established the boundary of southeast Alaska.^[9]

On April 11, 1908, the United Kingdom and the United States agreed, under Article IV of the Treaty of 1908 "concerning the boundary between the United States and the Dominion of Canada from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean", to survey and delimit the boundary between Canada and the U.S. through the St. Lawrence River and Great Lakes, in accordance with modern surveying techniques, and thus accomplished several changes to the border.^[10][11] In 1925, the International Boundary Commission's temporary mission became permanent for maintaining the survey and mapping of the border; maintaining boundary monuments and buoys; and keeping the border clear of brush and vegetation for 6 m (20 ft). This "border vista" extends for 3 m (9.8 ft) on each side of the line.^[12]

In 1909, under the Boundary Waters Treaty, the International Joint Commission was established for Canada and the U.S. to investigate and approve projects that affect the waters and waterways along the border.

21st century

As a result of the 2001 September 11 attacks, the Canada–U.S. border was shut without any warning, and no goods or people were allowed to cross. In the wake of the impromptu border closure, procedures were jointly developed to ensure that commercial traffic could cross the border even if people were restricted from crossing. These procedures were later used for a border closure caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.^[13]

2020–2021 closure

 

The Poker Creek–Little Gold Creek Border Crossing at the Alaska–Yukon border closed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada and the United States, the governments of Canada and the United States agreed to close the border to "non-essential" travel on March 21, 2020, for an initial period of 30 days.^[14] The closure has been extended 15 times since then; it expired on July 21, 2021. However, in mid-June 2021, the Canadian government announced it will ease some entry requirements for fully vaccinated Canadian nationals, permanent residents, and foreign nationals starting on July 5, 2021.^{[15][16][17][18][19][20]} In mid-July, the Canadian government announced that fully vaccinated American citizens and permanent residents can visit Canada starting August 9, 2021. The American government reopened its land border to fully vaccinated Canadian citizens effective November 8, 2021. Provided that COVID cases remain stable and/or decline, fully vaccinated international visitors can enter Canada starting September 7.^[21] The 2020–21 closure was reportedly the first blanket, long-term closure of the border since the War of 1812.^[22]

Essential travel, as defined by Canadian and US regulations, includes travel for employment or education purposes.^[23] "Non-essential" travel to Canada, includes travel "for an optional or discretionary purpose, such as tourism, recreation or entertainment."^[24] The U.S. Department of Homeland Security issued defined non-essential travel to include "tourism purposes (e.g., sightseeing, recreation, gambling, or attending cultural events)" and gave an extensive, non-exhaustive definition of what sorts of travel qualify as essential.^[25]

Business advocacy groups, noting the substantial economic impact of the closure on both sides of the border, called for more nuanced restrictions in place of the blanket ban on non-essential travel.^[26] The Northern Border Caucus, a group in the US Congress composed of members from border communities, made similar suggestions to the governments of both countries.^[27] Beyond the closure itself, US President Donald Trump also initially suggested the idea of deploying United States military personnel near the border with Canada in connection with the pandemic. He later abandoned the idea following vocal opposition from Canadian officials.^[28][29]

Security

Law enforcement approach

The International Boundary is commonly referred to as the world's "longest undefended border", though this is true only in the military sense, as civilian law enforcement is present. It is illegal to cross the border outside border controls, as anyone crossing the border must be checked per immigration^[30][31] and customs laws.^[32][33] The relatively low level of security measures stands in contrast to that of the United States–Mexico border (one-third length of Canada–U.S. border), which is actively patrolled by U.S. Customs and Border Protection personnel to prevent illegal migration and drug trafficking.

 

U.S. counties (or county equivalents) sharing a land or water border with Canada

  Land border

  Water border only

Parts of the International Boundary cross through mountainous terrain or heavily forested areas, but significant portions also cross remote prairie farmland and the Great Lakes and Saint Lawrence River, in addition to the maritime components of the boundary at the Atlantic, Pacific, and Arctic oceans. The border also runs through the middle of the Akwesasne Nation and even divides some buildings found in communities in New England and Quebec.

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) identifies the chief issues along the border as domestic and international terrorism; drug smuggling and smuggling of products (such as tobacco) to evade customs duties; and illegal immigration.^[34] A June 2019 U.S. Government Accountability Office report identified specific staffing and resource shortfalls faced by the CBP on the Northern border that adversely affect enforcement actions; the U.S. Border Patrol "identified an insufficient number of agents that limited patrol missions along the northern border" while CBP Air and Marine Operations "identified an insufficient number of agents along the northern border, which limited the number and frequency of air and maritime missions."^[34]

There are eight U.S. Border Patrol sectors based on the Canada–U.S. border, each covering a designated "area of responsibility"; the sectors are (from west to east) based in Blaine, Washington; Spokane, Washington; Havre, Montana; Grand Forks, North Dakota; Detroit, Michigan; Buffalo, New York; Swanton, Vermont; and Houlton, Maine.^[34]

Following the September 11 attacks in the United States, security along the border was dramatically tightened by the two countries in both populated and rural areas. Both nations are also actively involved in detailed and extensive tactical and strategic intelligence sharing.

In December 2010, Canada and the United States were negotiating an agreement titled "Beyond the Border: A Shared Vision for Perimeter Security and Competitiveness" which would give the U.S. more influence over Canada's border security and immigration controls, and more information would be shared by Canada with the U.S.^{[35][needs update]}

Security measures

 

Canadian border crossing sign with lights to alert those crossing to report to customs remotely. Remote customs exists in areas where staffed border crossings are unavailable.

Residents of both nations who own property adjacent to the border are forbidden to build within the 6-metre-wide (20 ft) boundary vista without permission from the International Boundary Commission. They are required to report such construction to their respective governments.

All persons crossing the border are required to report to the customs agency of the country they have entered. Where necessary, fences or vehicle blockades are used. In remote areas, where staffed border crossings are not available, there are hidden sensors on roads, trails, railways, and wooded areas, which are located near crossing points.^[36] There is no border zone;^[37] the U.S. Customs and Border Protection routinely sets up checkpoints as far as 100 miles (160 km) into U.S. territory.^[38][39]

In August 2020, the United States constructed 3.8 km (2.4 mi) of short cable fencing along the border between Abbotsford, British Columbia, and Whatcom County, Washington.^[40]

Identification

See also: American entry into Canada by land and Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative

 

Canada Border Services Agency and U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents reviewing identification. Valid identification is required for crossing the border.

Prior to 2007, American and Canadian citizens were only required to produce a birth certificate and driver's license/government-issued identification card when crossing the Canada–United States border.^[41]

However, in late 2006, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the final rule of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), which pertained to new identification requirements for travelers entering the United States. This rule, which marked the first phase of the initiative, was implemented on January 23, 2007, specifying six forms of identification acceptable for crossing the U.S. border (depending on mode):^[42][43]

• a valid passport—required in order to enter by air;
• a United States Passport Card;
• a state enhanced driver's license—available in the States of Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Vermont, Washington, as well as in the provinces of British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec;^[44]
• a trusted traveler program card (i.e. NEXUS, FAST, or SENTRI);
• a valid Merchant Mariner Credential—to be used when traveling in conjunction with official maritime business; and
• a valid U.S. military identification card—to be used when traveling on

January 10, 2023