A car waits at the United States and Canada border in Surrey, B.C., on Tuesday, March 4, 2025. A viral video falsely claims Canada has issued an advisory against travel to the United States over risks of detention.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns
A car waits at the United States and Canada border in Surrey, B.C., on Tuesday, March 4, 2025. A viral video falsely claims Canada has issued an advisory against travel to the United States over risks of detention.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns
A viral TikTok claims Canada warned citizens to avoid travelling to the United States because they risked detention. This claim is misleading. While the Canadian government's travel advice page for the United States warns staying past an authorized travel period could result in detention or deportation, the language predates recent border tensions and it is not discouraging citizens from U.S. travel.Ìý
"So Canada just warned its citizens not to travel to the United States because there's too much risk of illegal detention," claimed a TikTok user that's been viewed more than one million times.Ìý
The video made its way to and a similar claim appeared on : "America finally made the travel advisory list for hostile countries NOT to visit," reads a post with an attached story about Canada's travel advisory for the United States.Ìý
RATING: MISLEADING
The federal government , although it does not specify the distinction between advice and advisory.Ìý
The as of April 1, 2025 lists the risk level as normal and advises Canadians take normal security precautions when traveling to the United States.Ìý
An the day the TikTok was posted, shows no change in risk level and there does not seem to be any significant updates to the page's language.Ìý
The TikTok user noted the government warned Canadians about "illegal detentions," alluding to and others by U.S. immigration authorities.
However, language warning Canadians about the possibility of detention when staying past an authorized period has existed on the U.S. travel page .Ìý
On March 21, Canada updated the page to reflect new U.S. rules around registration for Canadians and other foreigners visiting the United States for more than 30 days.
The update included no mention of "illegal detention."
It's possible the original TikTok poster saw on March 20, where he urged Canadians to avoid travel to the United States.Ìý
In the video, Angus makes reference to Canadians and others being illegally detained, fingerprinted and deported, mirroring language used in the TikTok video.Ìý
Forbes with the title "Canadian MP Issues Travel Warning Against The United States," receiving more than 160,000 views.
American media site NowThis shared a post on its social media pages (some of which are blocked in Canada due to Meta's news ban) about Angus' "warning" to travelers, with around 73,000 likes.
Many Canadians are avoiding travel to the United States amid the new travel restrictions and Canada-U.S. tensions.Ìý
Cancelled travel plans by Canadians are making a dent in the U.S. tourism industry, with both airline and seeing a significant drop in recent months.Ìý
SOURCES
TikTok () and reposted to March 22, 2025 (), with similar appearing March 24, 2025 ()
Travel advice and advisories by destination. Government of Canada . Accessed April 1, 2025 ()
United States travel advice. Government of Canada . Accessed April 1, 2025 ()Ìý
United States travel advice from March 20, 2025Â
Jasmine Mooney. I’m the Canadian who was detained by Ice for two weeks. It felt like I had been kidnapped. The Guardian . March 19, 2025 ()
United states travel advice from April 29, 2018Â
CHARLIE ANGUS ISSUES TRAVEL WARNING AGAINST UNITED STATES. Charlie Angus, on . March 20, 2025 ()
JUST IN: Canadian MP Issues Travel Warning Against The United States: 'Trying To Make Us The Enemy'. Forbes Breaking News, on . March 20, 2025 (, )
NowThis Impact community post on . March 23, 2025 ()
Christopher Reynolds. Canadians cancel U.S. travel plans amid anger over tariffs, weak loonie. °µÍø½ûÇø website. March 5, 2025 ()
Heather Kitching. Passenger trips to U.S. drop in February at Windsor, Sarnia border crossings. CBC News . March 13, 2025 ()
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