Canadian denied entry into the U.S. to visit grandparents

A 20-year-old Canadian booked to fly south to visit her grandparents was recently refused entry into the United States by American customs officers at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport.

With a look of bewilderment on her face, Julia, who has asked us not to share her last name, told CTV National News that customs officers thought that she was “illegally immigrating to the U.S.”

“It felt like a bit of abuse of power, honestly,” said her mother Kate, who was shocked to receive a phone call from her daughter when she was stranded at the airport.

Julia arrived at Pearson Airport with her bag packed and a valid Canadian passport in hand on Nov. 3.

She said she had purchased round-trip airfare to Orlando with Porter Airlines and was looking forward to a six-week trip to Florida to reset and spend some quality time with her grandparents.

The 20-year-old, who is on a break from school until the spring, like many young Canadians, couldn’t find a job. So, she decided to take advantage of the time off and head south, but her plans were quickly grounded by customs officers.

Julia said she waited for an hour and a half in line before it was finally her turn to approach a U.S. customs officer at Pearson Airport’s pre-clearance counter and answer a couple of standard questions.

However, she quickly learned that officers found her suspicious. “They decided to flag me and bring me to a different room,” Julia said.

She said she began to worry that she’d miss her flight.

“I was starting to hyperventilate a bit, because I was nervous that something was going to happen. Then I’m told I’m denied entrance into America,” Julia said.

When asked by CTV News if she had any plans of trying to immigrate to the U.S., the Toronto native didn’t hesitate to share her feelings.

“I have no interest of ever living in America,” she said.

Immigration lawyer Heather Segal told CTV News that Canadians being stopped by U.S. customs officers is happening with more frequency.

“U.S. immigration takes their orders from the top and when there’s a more anti-immigration sentiment in the country, they have all the tools to use (at) their discretion in a negative manner,” Segal said.

A U.S. Homeland Security checklist was sent home with Julia. On the sheet, a customs officer noted that Julia didn’t provide proof of a return ticket home, although she showed CTV News her itinerary, along with a return flight home with Porter Airlines. Julia said she had provided the customs officers with a return date.

Customs also requested proof of her employment and schooling in Canada, she said, adding that she was unable to do that, because she is currently unemployed and on a break from school.

Segal said that in recent months she’s heard from multiple Canadians who say they’re facing “more questioning about purpose of visit and more requests for documentation.”

“Some people are also being kept in secondary (inspection area) for longer when they’re being questioned,” Segal said.

The jarring experience has left her shaken, Julia said.

Even though she visited her grandparents without any issues in February, she’s now concerned that she may be unable to cross the border to see her family.

Meanwhile, upon learning of Julia’s story, Porter Airlines reached out to the family and provided them with a full refund.

Kate believes her daughter’s story is one that Canadians need to hear.

“I hope that other people aren’t going to face this. It was a gross inconvenience,” she said.

“It can have financial repercussions, as well as emotional. If our story helps any family avoid it, that would be great. I think a lot of people are boycotting travel to the U.S., and after this experience, I’m all for it.”

Immigration lawyers who spoke to CTV News say that Canadians should be prepared for the unexpected when trying to cross into the U.S.

If you’re attending a wedding or event stateside, have your invitation or tickets on hand, the lawyers advise. Make sure you have proof of a return flight as well as hotel reservation details.

“Some of the politics between Canada and the U.S. play out at the border,” Segal said.

“These factors contributed to this young woman’s issue getting into the U.S. Even though she’s not doing anything wrong, suspicions are higher at the border.”