Article content continued

“I know how powerful these guys are and I didn’t want to miss our flight.”

It didn’t sit well with the couple, who’d never experienced anything similar in previous trips through the U.S., and Carl Hannigan sent a letter outlining his concerns to hisMP, Ron Liepert.

Photo by Lyle Aspinall / Postmedia Network

The Conservative MP wrote back saying he sympathized with the Hannigans and wondered if the approach was linked to the tougher immigration stance of the new Trump administration that might also be targeting travellers to Mexico.

“During this time of immigration upheaval it will be important for Canadians to, wherever possible, not connect through the U.S. when travelling to Mexico,” he wrote.

But in an email response, CBP spokesman Jaime Ruiz said the practice is routine and sweeping.

“Collecting biometrics and photos of all foreign visitors arriving at U.S. international airports is standard operating procedure,” he stated.

“Nothing new or unusual.”

The CBP says the data collection is partly for the good of those it’s taken from, by foiling identity theft if travel documents are stolen.

The information can also be checked against a database of criminals and suspected terrorists, and “protects the privacy of our visitors,” states the CBP website.

But some frequent Canadian travellers to the U.S. say they’ve never been subject to such checks.

Longtime Calgary travel agent Heather Turner said it’s been her experience that Canadians have been exempt from those measures.

“I was through three times last year and I have never, ever been asked for anything more than a passport and the completed customs declaration,” said Turner.

What U.S. border agents do at their airports is beyond Ottawa’s control, said Jocelyn Sweet, spokeswoman for Global Affairs Canada.

“We’re not in a position to comment on the U.S. process in admitting people into their jurisdiction,” said Sweet.

“All we can do is try to provide information so people know what that process is, so they can be prepared.”

BKaufmann@postmedia.com

Twitter/BillKaufmannjrn