NEW YORK— U.S. government officials have managed to allay Canadian fears regarding some of that nations citizens being unduly profiled upon crossing into this country. As a result, an international travel advisory issued earlier this week cautioning certain groups of Canadian citizens with Middle Eastern ties to expect increased scrutiny by border officials when traveling to the U.S. has been softened to reflect reported assurances citizens of Canada will not be unduly targeted or questioned based on their country of birth. Earlier this week, U.S. tourism and hospitality interests found themselves in an unfamiliar situation— on the receiving end of an international travel advisory. As reported through the Associated Press as well as other media sources, Canada ostensibly advised its citizens born in Iraq, Syria and a number of other nations drawing increased attention by this country’s stepped-up anti-terrorism policies and procedures to think twice about cross-border travel into the U.S. Specifically, the advisory— issued Monday— cited newly enacted U.S. regulations permitting American authorities “to closely monitor travelers born in certain countries suspected of terrorism links.” Reynald Doiron, speaking on behalf of Canada’s foreign affairs department, reportedly contended America’s northern neighbor “considers the system discriminatory because it targets citizens based on where they were born.” Offering up a point of view from this side of the border, International Hotel & Restaurant Association President Eric Pfeffer— a long-time hospitality and travel industry leader— maintained: “I’m disappointed the government of Canada would do something like this, if for no other reason than it flies in the face of the North American Free Trade Agreement [NAFTA].” As Pfeffer further pointed out: “Canada has long been a good neighbor [of the U.S.], and I think the Canadian people are too smart [to place much stock in this warning].” As for such an advisory’s likely fall-out among this country’s travel and hospitality venues, he added: “I think the impact is likely to be minimal… but only time will tell.” Adding with a degree of prescience, Pfeffer offered: “I suspect this advisory to be lifted soon.” Canada reportedly changed its stance when its Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham said he received assurances from U.S. officials that Canadian citizens born in a number of Middle Eastern and North African countries would not be treated any differently (than other citizens of that country) upon crossing the border to enter into the U.S. Moreover, while Graham was quoted as noting such indications would be removed from his countrys travel advisory immediately, he added it could take some time for changes in policy and procedure to become evident at border crossings. Hearkening back to the root of the rhubarb, it was noted Syria, Iran, Iraq, Libya and Sudan are the countries listed in the U.S. National Security Entry Exit Registration System, introduced on the first anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. The system is said to authorize the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service to photograph, fingerprint and monitor the arrival and departure of visitors born in— or citizens of— those nations. It was claimed the Canadian travel advisory further noted people from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Yemen “could also attract special attention from American immigration and security authorities.”
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