The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) announced today that it will begin implementing phase II of the Entry/Exit Initiative with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as outlined in the Beyond the Border Action Plan.
Under phase II, the CBSA and DHS will exchange entry data collected on third-country nationals (those who are neither citizens of Canada nor of the U.S.), permanent residents of Canada who are not U.S. citizens, and lawful permanent residents of the U.S. who are not Canadian citizens, at all automated land ports of entry along the common border, including all major land border crossings.
This exchange began June 30. No effects on regular operations are anticipated.
Phase II builds on phase I, which involved the exchange of routine biographic information on these same classes of travellers at four land ports of entry in British Columbia/Washington State and Ontario/New York.
This initial phase validated the entry/exit concept: that entry into one country confirms the exit from the other.
The data exchanged under phase II will include traveller information that is currently being collected at ports of entry, as well as the date/time of entry and the port through which the individual has entered.
Currently collected data elements being shared are: first name, last name, middle name, date of birth, nationality, gender, document type, document number, work location code/U.S. port of entry codes, date of entry, time of entry, and document country of issuance.
The sharing of information will allow the CBSA to better monitor the departure of people subject to removal orders and/or immigration warrants so that it can focus its enforcement efforts on individuals still likely to be in Canada.
The agency will also assist the government in determining that individuals continue to meet permanent residency obligations and/or meet eligibility requirements to apply for citizenship.
The process of collecting and sharing personal information is being done in accordance with each country's respective privacy laws and policies.
It will also be consistent with the Beyond the Border Action Plan Joint Statement of Privacy Principles and an Annex, agreed to by the CBSA, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) and DHS, to the Statement of Mutual Understanding on Information Sharing which sets out the parameters for information sharing under phase II.