University Teachers’ Association Warns Canadian Academics Against Travelling to the United States

 

Canadian Association of University Teachers warns Canadian academics could be searched and detained over their political views at US border

The national organization representing university faculty associations across Canada has issued a travel advisory to its 72,000 members warning academic professions against non-essential travel to the United States.

The advisory issued last week states travellers to the US are “increasingly vulnerable to preclearance zones and border searches that may compromise research confidentiality and academic freedom.”

Robin Whitaker, vice president of CAUT and an associate professor at Memorial University, said CAUT has been closely following reports of foreign nationals being questioned, denied entry or detained when attempting to cross a border with the United States.

“We took legal advice, and I think the balance of evidence is that (this is) the time for academics to be very, very cautious and concerned about crossing the border,” Whitaker told PressProgress.

CAUT is advising academics who are citizens or residents of a country where there are diplomatic tensions with the US, or who have recently traveled to those countries, to exercise particular caution when considering traveling to the US.  (more...)

University Teachers’ Association Warns Canadian Academics Against Travelling to the United States