The latest travel advisory from the federal government advises First Nations individuals to have a passport along with a status card when crossing the U.S. border. Previously, the government website indicated that First Nations people could freely enter the U.S. for various reasons like work, study, retirement, investment, or immigration. However, the website has now been updated with new guidelines as of this week.
The revised website states that First Nations individuals may have the option to cross the Canada-U.S. border by land or water with their Secure Certificate of Indian Status, also known as a secure status card. It emphasizes that U.S. officials have the discretion to accept all status cards and secure status cards but notes that they are not valid travel documents for air travel.
Travelers using a status card for border crossings are strongly advised to carry a valid passport and a machine-readable secure status card. Since February 2019, all newly issued or renewed secure status cards come with a machine-readable field. The government started issuing secure status cards in 2009, phasing out older versions of laminated, paper, or plastic status cards.
The Government of Canada website now strongly recommends carrying a valid passport when traveling outside of Canada, even if one has previously crossed the border using only a secure status card. Additionally, individuals registered under the Indian Act entering the U.S. for residence or work may be required to provide documentation demonstrating the required percentage of Indian blood under U.S. law.
The Assembly of First Nations has cautioned First Nations individuals about crossing the U.S. border due to immigration enforcement activities and the detention of Indigenous persons. AFN National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak confirmed a negative encounter involving a First Nations person with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), leading to a statement urging proper documentation and identification for border crossings.
Indigenous Services Canada reported incidents of status card confiscation or damage in the U.S., offering emergency status card issuance and expedited requests for affected individuals. Mississauga First Nation and other First Nations have advised against border crossings, citing recent ICE detentions of Indigenous individuals. The Jay Treaty Alliance recommends carrying essential documents like familial lineage letters, status cards, birth certificates, and IDs when crossing the U.S. border.
U.S. tribal members are encouraged to carry tribal IDs, state IDs, driver’s licenses, or U.S. passports for border crossings.
