Between high-profile stories of tourists getting caught up in Trump’s anti-immigrant crackdown and the president’s comments calling the country a “51st state” and former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau a “governor,” travel from Canada to the U.S. has sunk to historic lows.
Even with Trump dialing down the rhetoric from statements he made in February and March, Statistics Canada reported a 35% decline in April road border crossings, while the Flight Centre travel group (FGETF) also recorded a 40% decline in corporate travel.
Even though both nations continue to keep the other at the lowest “take normal precautions” travel advisory, Canada updated citizen travel guidance to reflect greater border scrutiny under the new administration.
“Comply and be forthcoming in all interactions with border authorities,” the Canadian government added to its travel advisory in 2025. “If you are denied entry, you could be detained while awaiting deportation.”
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‘Additional curfew orders may be imposed on short notice’
Issued in the wake of Trump’s choice to send the National Guard and the U.S. Marines in response to anti-deportation protests in Los Angeles, the Canadian government once again updated its advisory to reflect both a new curfew and the risk of being caught up in a crowd that is being targeted for dispersal.
“Large demonstrations have been taking place in Los Angeles,” the June 11 update now reads. “Demonstrations are also occurring in other major cities. Additional security forces have been deployed and a curfew is in effect for most of downtown Los Angeles from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Additional curfew orders may be imposed on short notice.”
Related: Canadian travel numbers to the US keep getting worse
The government further warns travelers to keep away from any large gatherings or demonstrations and “follow the instructions of local authorities, including curfew orders” if they find themselves suddenly caught up in a crowd.
Other sections of the Canadian advisory updated since the start of 2025 focus on petty and violent crime in specific cities and areas, drug trafficking across the U.S.-Mexico border and harsher border enforcement since the start of Trump’s second term in the White House.
The State Department advisory, in turn, calls Canada “generally a safe destination for travelers,” in which nothing more than travel insurance and awareness in an unfamiliar environment is necessary.
Following Trump’s choice to send the military in response to anti-deportation protests in Los Angeles, the Canadian government has updated its U.S. travel advisory.
Image source: Schaben/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
Ambassador unhappy with Canadian travel advisory: ‘America is a welcoming place’
In a June interview with the Canadian Press, American ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra expressed displeasure with the harsher tone that the Canadian advisory now takes.
“I’m not denying that it happened, but I’m saying it’s an isolated event and it is not a pattern,” Hoekstra said of stories in which several Canadian citizens were placed in detention. “Searching devices and all of that is not a well-founded fear. We don’t do that. America is a welcoming place.”
More on travel:
United Airlines places big bet on new flights to trendy destinationGovernment issues new travel advisory on popular beach destinationAnother country just issued a new visa requirement for visitors
At the end of April, flagship airline Air Canada (ACDVF) cut flights to Washington, Houston, and Miami from a number of Canadian cities amid a wider trend of Canadians choosing to eschew the U.S. amid the current political environment.
“If we can derisk this a little bit and move and be a bit proactive and move capacity into other sectors [where] we see strength, I think that’s the right move right now in this context,” Air Canada’s Executive VP of Revenue and Network Planning Mark Galardo told investors in March.
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