Embassy of the United States Ottawa, Canada

While bilateral law enforcement cooperation and coordination were excellent prior to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States, they have since become even closer through such mechanisms as the Cross Border Crime Forum. Canada, like the U.S., has strengthened its laws and realigned resources to fight terrorism. U.S.-Canada security cooperation to create a safe and secure border is exemplary. Canadian and U.S. federal and local law enforcement personnel fight cross-border crime through cooperation on joint Integrated Border Enforcement Teams (IBETs). Companies on both sides of the border have joined governments in highly successful partnerships and made massive investments to secure their own facilities and internal supply chains. Over 70% of Canada-U.S. trade is transported by truck. Some commercial drivers crossing the border have volunteered to undergo background security checks under the bilateral Free and Secure Trade (FAST) program and many companies participate in the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT). These initiatives have helped secure trade while speeding border processing.

This section on United States-Canada border issues includes links, documents, news releases and texts of remarks by senior U.S. officials covering a wide range of border security issues.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is America's largest uniformed law enforcement organization and is dedicated to providing homeland security by securing our borders. Specifically, CBP prevents terrorists and their weapons from entering our shores while enforcing hundreds of U.S. trade and immigration laws.

CBP accomplishes this through an array of strategies, technologies and programs that support nearly 30,000 highly trained and dedicated officers deployed at borders and other points of entry around the U.S. and abroad. From desolate southwestern deserts to huge international commerce centers on the other side of the globe, CBP is working to do whatever is necessary to protect America and safeguard the global economy.

All CBP homeland security operations are supplemented by the Office of Anti-Terrorism that gathers and disseminates international intelligence on emerging risks and passes on that information to effected CBP locales. Click here for some of the Anti-Terrorism Initiatives overseen by CBP.

A valued partner in CBP enforcement operations is its canine detection program. Our detector dogs are highly trained and effective at locating smuggled people, drugs, agricultural items and even explosives.