Republicans Shift Focus to Canada's Northern Border in Presidential Race

Former President Donald Trump, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, and former U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley have redirected their immigration-related rhetoric towards Canada’s northern border, an issue that is gaining prominence in the GOP presidential race. While the U.S.Mexico border has traditionally been the focal point of immigration discussions for Republicans, the northern border is now taking center stage, particularly in New Hampshire, a state that shares its border with Canada.DeSantis, before dropping out of the race, promised New Hampshire voters increased resources to enhance security at the northern border, placing blame on President Joe Biden for what he perceived as a deteriorating situation.Trump, during a recent

Iowa visit, referred to the northern border as “not so hot,” incorporating it into discussions about immigration and border security. At a rally in Concord, Rep. Elise Stefanik mentioned a surge in illegal crossings at the northern border, some involving individuals on the terrorist watch list.Nikki Haley has been especially vocal about northern border security, discussing it at various campaign stops in New Hampshire. During a CNN town hall, she emphasized the need to address the northern border more comprehensively, highlighting the apprehension of hundreds of suspected terrorists there.Customs and Border Protection (CBP) statistics reveal that nearly 500 individuals on the terrorist watch list were apprehended at the northern border from October 2022 to September, compared to 80 at the southern border.