The federal government has issued updated guidelines for First Nations individuals traveling to the United States, advising them to carry a passport along with their status card when crossing the border. Previously, the government website indicated that First Nations people could enter the U.S. for various purposes, but the information has now been revised.
According to the latest information, First Nations individuals may be permitted to cross the Canada-U.S. border using their Secure Certificate of Indian Status, also known as a secure status card. However, the acceptance of these status cards is solely at the discretion of U.S. officials, and they are not considered valid travel documents for air travel.
Travelers using a status card for border crossings are strongly recommended to also have a valid passport and use a machine-readable secure status card. Since February 2019, all new and renewed secure status cards come with a machine-readable field, replacing older versions of laminated or plastic status cards issued before 2009.
The government now advises that having a valid passport is essential when traveling outside of Canada, especially for those registered under the Indian Act who are entering the U.S. to reside or work. Individuals may also be required to provide documentation proving the necessary percentage of Indian blood as per U.S. law.
The Assembly of First Nations has cautioned against border crossings into the U.S. due to immigration enforcement activities and the detention of Indigenous individuals. Following a negative encounter with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), AFN National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak emphasized the importance of having correct documentation when crossing the border.
In response to reports of status card confiscation or damage in the U.S., Indigenous Services Canada has assured that emergency status cards can be issued promptly to those affected. Mississauga First Nation and several other First Nations have also issued warnings against border crossings, citing recent detentions of Indigenous individuals by ICE.
The Jay Treaty Alliance has recommended that First Nations people crossing into the U.S. carry essential documents such as familial lineage letters, status cards, birth certificates, and government-issued photo IDs. Similarly, U.S. tribal members are advised to have their tribal IDs, state-issued IDs, driver’s licenses, or a U.S. passport on them during border crossings.
