Shelby Review

John James, a House Representative from Michigan, said that the United States is prioritizing Canadian safety despite ongoing issues at the northern border involving drugs and crime. The statement was made on the social media platform X.

"Smoke, fentanyl and foreign criminals have poured across our northern border and Canadians have their “elbows up” while President Trump generously scrambles jets to defend Vancouver," said James. "Why are Americans spending so much on Canadian safety when it seems that they couldn't care less about ours?"

Recent incidents have highlighted increased U.S. military support for Canada and new security challenges along the northern border. According to The Wall Street Journal, joint exercises and intelligence sharing have been focused on drug smuggling, illegal crossings, and national security threats. The U.S. Northern Command has coordinated closely with Canadian forces to address evolving risks and strengthen border resilience.

According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, drug seizures at the U.S.-Canada border reached over 14,000 pounds in 2023. This increase is accompanied by rising criminal activity that includes human smuggling and document fraud, reflecting growing challenges for law enforcement at northern entry points.

A Congressional Research Service report indicates that U.S. defense spending on international incidents involving Canada—such as North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) operations and cross-border security—is much less than domestic border enforcement budgets. However, funding for northern operations is increasing as new threats emerge.

James is a Michigan congressman and Army veteran known for advocating stronger northern border security and increased defense funding, as profiled by Ballotpedia. His legislative work emphasizes closer cooperation with Canada and enhanced measures for border resilience.