A Preclearance agreement was signed between the United States and Canadian leaders in Washington, D.C. Monday.
U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson and Canadian Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Steven Blaney signed the Agreement on Land, Rail, Marine, and Air Transport Preclearance.This is part of the Beyond the Border Initiative.
U.S. Congressman Brian Higgins said it will enhance security while facilitating lawful travel trade, and supersedes the existing U.S.-Canada Air Preclearance agreement signed in 2001.
“With this agreement the United States and Canada, through thoughtful dialogue and coordination, expand a shared vision for an efficient cross border strategy. This joint front between our two nations promises to strengthen the northern border links which feed our binational economies and supports continued economic growth right here in Western New York," stated Congressman Brian Higgins.
This agreement still needs the final approval of Congress and Canadian Parliament before it can be implemented. It could help deal with the truck congestion at the Peace Bridge.
Congressman Higgins serves as a member of the House Committees on Homeland Security and Foreign Affairs, U.S.-Canada Interparliamentary Exchange and Co-Chairs the Congressional Northern Border Caucus.
Higgns has urged the Department of Homeland Security to choose the Peace Bridge for a pre-inspection pilot project, which took place between February 2014 through January 2015.
“After years of hard work and negotiations, today we have one of the most significant, visible, and anticipated products of the Beyond the Border initiative – a major achievement that will produce significant benefits for the United States and Canada,” said Secretary Johnson. “This agreement will help facilitate the legitimate trade and travel that keeps our economy thriving as we maintain utmost vigilance to the security of our borders. We remain committed to our deep partnership with Canada, a true ally, neighbor and friend of the United States.”
“Our Government’s top priority remains creating jobs and opportunities for Canadians,” said Minister Blaney. “This historic new agreement builds on decades of successful preclearance operations in Canadian airports. It will enhance the security at our border and create jobs and growth in Canada by improving the flow of legitimate goods and people between our two countries.”
This agreement will:
- Allow for the consideration of requests for new preclearance locations across all modes;
- Enable exploration of co-location at small and remote ports, if desired;
- Provide updates to the Air Preclearance Agreement to better reflect the post 9/11 operating environment, including policies and tools utilized at domestic ports of entry;
- Enable Canada to request that the United States regularize existing U.S. immigration pre-inspection sites – for example at cruise, rail and ferry terminals in British Columbia;
- Enhance authorities for preclearance officers including the ability to carry firearms, defensive tools, and restraint devices to the same extent that Host Party officers are permitted to carry in the relevant operating environments;
- Address officer privileges and immunities through a shared jurisdictional framework in which the sending country may generally exercise primary criminal jurisdiction for acts committed by its officers in the performance of official duties in the Host country; and
- Retain the civil and administrative prosecutorial jurisdictions for preclearance officers provided for in the current Air Preclearance Agreement.