OTTAWA, April 15 – Canada’s largest association representing university faculty has issued a rare warning urging its 70,000 members to avoid non-essential travel to the United States, citing rising border scrutiny and political tensions under the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump.
The Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT), which represents academic staff across 122 universities and colleges, said the advisory comes amid growing reports of Canadian and other foreign nationals being detained or subjected to intensive screening at U.S. border crossings.
“This is the first time in over a decade that we’ve advised our members to reconsider travel to the U.S.,” CAUT executive director David Robinson told reporters, noting the decision was based on legal advice highlighting risks to personal safety and confidentiality of academic materials.
The advisory is aimed particularly at faculty from countries with strained diplomatic ties with Washington, researchers whose work may conflict with the Trump administration’s policies, and individuals identifying as transgender.
“It’s clear there’s been heightened scrutiny of people entering the United States, and a heightened kind of political screening,” Robinson said. He warned that sensitive or confidential academic data stored on electronic devices could be compromised during border searches.
CAUT’s advisory follows a string of high-profile detentions, including Canadian citizen Jasmine Mooney and travelers from Germany and Wales, who were reportedly held in U.S. facilities for up to a week. Robinson said such cases contributed to growing unease in Canada’s academic community. Canada’s federal government recently updated its own U.S. travel advisory, cautioning citizens about possible detention and increased scrutiny by U.S. border agents.
According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, crossings from Canada fell 32% in March compared with the same month last year, a drop of 864,000 travellers. The decline follows a spike in public concern in Canada over Trump’s rhetoric on border policies, trade, and alleged annexation threats. Robinson said CAUT will maintain the advisory “until we see the end of political screening, and there is more respect for confidential information on electronic devices.”
