Border Integrity

Border Integrity contributes to the national security of Canada and protects Canadians from terrorism, organized crime and other border-related criminality, while allowing for the secure and effective international movement of people and goods.

This is carried out in partnership with international and domestic government agencies, domestic stakeholders and the community at large.

RCMP History of Border Security

• The RCMP has been securing Canada’s border for more than 135 years.
• One of the earliest mandates was to patrol the Frontier and suppress the whisky trade.
• During the gold rush, the RCMP operated customs checkpoints for people and goods crossing the Canada-Alaska border on the overland route to the Klondike.
• Many years later, RCMP Customs and Excise investigators began focusing on anti-smuggling investigations involving sophisticated organized crime groups. That mandate continues today.
• The RCMP has a long and proud history of keeping watch over the border. In 2001, an expanded security program was formed to tackle today’s increasingly complex border investigations. This program is called Border Integrity.

Border Integrity Today

• The RCMP continues to be responsible for securing the length of Canada’s border except for the Ports of Entry. Ports of Entry are the official customs check points that are used when crossing the border.
• Canadian and American law enforcement agencies, such as the RCMP and the U.S. Border Patrol, share common values and work together on many joint operations.
• Through our leadership role in the Canadian/American law enforcement partnership known as the Integrated Border Enforcement Team (IBET), the RCMP has enhanced border security.
• IBET consists of:
  • Royal Canadian Mounted Police,
  • Canada Border Services Agency,
  • U.S. Border Patrol,
  • U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement,
  • U.S. Coast Guard
• Today there are 24 IBET units that play a critical role in maintaining the integrity and security of our borders by assisting in national security investigations and combating organized crime and other criminal activity.
• The combined expertise of all the IBET partners means that investigators from five large national enforcement agencies in both Canada and the United States work as ONE, while respecting the laws and jurisdiction of each nation.
• There are six dedicated Immigration and Passport (I&P) units within Border Integrity. I&P teams disrupt illegal migrant smuggling and the trafficking of persons. They investigate cases of illegal Canadian travel documents and work closely with domestic and foreign agencies, as well as the community at large.
• On several occasions, the RCMP and the U.S. Coast Guard have collaborated on a special marine security project known as “Shiprider,” targeting cross-border criminal activity on our shared waters. The Shiprider pilots were a tremendous success and negotiations are underway to create a permanent Shiprider program.

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Myths and Facts

There are many myths when it comes to the Canada-U.S. border – myths that are persistent and persuasive and should be dispelled.

Myth: Canada is the major source of illegal migration into the U.S.
Fact: According to the U.S. Secretary, Department of Homeland Security, approximately 99% of the people who cross into the U.S. illegally enter through the U.S./Mexico border. One percent (1%) enter through the U.S. northern border with Canada (2007).

Myth: The terrorists involved in the September 11th attacks entered the U.S. through Canada.
Fact: None of the terrorists involved in the September 11th attacks entered the U.S. through Canada. They entered the United States directly from other countries with valid U.S. visas.

Myth: Goods are only smuggled from Canada to the US.
Fact: Border crime moves both ways. Criminals attempt to smuggle illegal goods both from the U.S. into Canada and from Canada into the U.S. RCMP Border Integrity teams work closely with Canadian, American and other international agencies to secure Canada’s borders.