Alberta Announces Creation of International Border Patrol Team Amid U.S. Tariff Threat

In a bold move to bolster security along its southern border, Alberta is establishing a new international border patrol team, fulfilling Premier Danielle Smith’s commitment to using provincial law enforcement powers to enhance border security in response to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s tariff threats.
The Interdiction Patrol Team, unveiled Thursday, will consist of Alberta sheriffs assigned to monitor the area directly north of the province’s border with Montana. The team will carry out roadside stops, focusing on commercial vehicles traveling to and from Alberta’s six land border crossings. The additional inspections will target potential threats such as drug and gun smuggling, human trafficking, and other illicit activities.
Speaking on the matter, Mike Ellis, Alberta’s Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services, stated that these enhanced border measures would be implemented in 2025, regardless of Trump’s policies. He emphasized the need to secure the province’s borders and ensure that Alberta’s residents are protected from illegal activities that could affect both the provincial and national level.
“We are taking proactive measures to ensure our safety and security, and we are committed to working with federal law enforcement agencies to protect this vital section of the international border,” Ellis said.
The new team, made up of 51 uniformed officers, will patrol a 298-kilometre stretch of the border, with an additional $29 million allocated to launch the effort. The province will also establish a two-kilometre-deep “red zone” north of the border to assist with enforcement.
Premier Smith voiced her confidence in the initiative, stating that Alberta’s strengthened border security would deter criminals attempting to operate across both the U.S. and Canadian borders. She expressed hope that successful implementation of these measures would further solidify Alberta’s strong relationship with the United States.
“We’ll deny safe haven to criminals looking to operate in both countries, and if we succeed in maintaining proper border security, I expect we’ll have a very strong relationship with the United States as we always have,” Smith said during a press conference.
This announcement comes amid heightened border security concerns across North America. In October, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) apprehended 11 individuals attempting to enter the U.S. illegally from the Alberta-Montana border. These figures represent a small portion of the 1,283 apprehensions made along the entire U.S.-Canada land border in the same period. CBP also reported an increase in illegal entries along Montana’s northern border, with 100 apprehensions during the past year, up from 77 the previous year.
The creation of Alberta’s Interdiction Patrol Team is seen as a response to President-elect Trump’s threat to impose tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports, citing concerns over illegal immigration and drug smuggling. While Alberta’s new security initiative aims to address these issues, the province also reiterated its commitment to ensuring that its relationship with the U.S. remains strong, no matter the political climate.