Canadians from coast to coast are horrified by excessive violence, including the killing of law-abiding, non-violent bystanders and protesters, U.S. citizens, and others by the U.S. force known as ICE. In recent weeks, masked federal agents have carried out aggressive operations in public spaces, resulting in the killing of Renée Nicole Good and Alex Pretti, both in Minnesota. The Green Party is also deeply concerned by reports of kidnappings, detentions, and the violent targeting of civilians, including the detention of a five-year-old child.

We recognize that the increasing violence and escalation, while deeply disturbing, is primarily outside Canadian jurisdiction. However, there are concrete things our government must do to defend the rights, life, liberty, and security of our neighbours.

The Green Party of Canada calls for the government to:

  1. Immediately cancel the Safe Third Country Agreement with the U.S., which requires Canada to turn away refugee claimants if they enter Canada from the U.S. It cannot be said that the U.S. is a “safe country” for those seeking protection and refuge.
  2. Issue a travel advisory for Canadians who may travel to the United States, especially given recent reports from Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN) based on warnings from the Assembly of First Nations. These warnings are that Indigenous peoples may be targeted by ICE agents who are poorly trained and more than prepared to arrest and assault people without any evidence. Indigenous people could be endangered by ICE.
  3. Take action to ensure Canadian private sector enterprises are not aiding and abetting this para-military threat to public safety in the United States.

Given recent reports that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has moved to obtain Canadian-made armoured vehicles built by Ontario manufacturer Roshel, Canada must not supply equipment that supports or normalizes abusive enforcement operations.

Similarly, recent B.C. news reports indicate that B.C.’s Pattison Group may be willing to sell property in its real estate holdings to be used by ICE as detention centres.

The federal government must act to stop any transfers, exports, or procurement pathways that equip ICE with the tools used to violate human rights, including weapons, real estate, and tactical gear.

Greens believe that private-sector Canadian companies cannot support or deal with ICE while it represents a threat to the peace and security of our neighbours. Just as, by law, Canadians cannot support named foreign terrorist organizations, we should explore a law to place ICE and, potentially, similar foreign law enforcement organizations with a serious record of human rights abuses on a list of entities with which Canadians must not engage.

“Canada has an out-sized role in the world—as a democracy that defends human rights and fairness. We must protect vulnerable people, not turn them away, and not profit from systems that brutalize the innocent and non-violent,” said Green Party leader Elizabeth May.

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