The U.S. and Canada share a cherished partnership, rooted in a $1.2 trillion annual trade relationship, with Michigan facilitating over $70 billion through the Detroit-Windsor corridor, North America’s busiest commercial crossing.

This bond sustains 8 million U.S. jobs, including 230,000 in Michigan, where Canadian investments fuel our automotive and agricultural sectors. Michiganders treasure Canada’s historical support, from providing troops and resources in World War II to standing with us post-9/11. With 40% of our residents tied to Canada through ancestry or family, our shared Great Lakes stewardship and NORAD commitments reflect a deep friendship. Yet, I’m troubled that Michigan’s concerns, particularly around border security, are smugly disregarded by some Canadian leaders, straining our valued relationship.

Recommended Stories

• The tense tussle over Trump's Iran strategy
• On reconciliation, the Senate can make or break the deficit
• The GENIUS Act is key to protecting your wallet and preserving the dollar

A cartel smuggler recently shared on 60 Minutes that he moves 30kg of fentanyl monthly across the U.S.-Canada border — enough to kill 32 million people — and warned there are “more like him” and “they’ll never stop, they’ll always find a way in.” As a proud representative of a northern border district in Michigan, I see the pain of this crisis up close.

Last year, Michigan was heartbroken by the loss of 17-year-old Michael Filippelli to a fentanyl overdose, a tragedy echoing across Michigan and all 50 states. Families are grieving as this crisis, fueled by drugs smuggled across our borders, tears communities apart.

When cartels are more committed to finding ways to invade our border than our allies are to securing it, Canadians shouldn’t be surprised when American leaders take Canadian sovereignty concerns as seriously as Canadian leaders take American security concerns.

The American people elected a leader to help bring this crisis to an end. President Donald Trump has worked night and day to secure our southern border and clean up the mess former President Joe Biden left us. The Trump administration took quick and decisive action to curb trafficking and confront the growing presence of criminal organizations. Thanks to the president’s strong leadership, illegal crossings at the southern border are at the lowest level they’ve been in years.

These same criminals are now exploiting Canada’s laissez-faire approach to border security and are infiltrating our northern border. In fact, 84% of those apprehended on the FBI watch list come through our shared border with Canada. That is not a coincidence. That is a crisis.

Canada’s recent border “reform” legislation, though hailed as “sweeping,” barely scratches the surface and is a missed opportunity. It focuses on bureaucratic procedures, financial disclosures, and warrant reforms while sidestepping concrete enforcement and accountability mechanisms to combat critical issues such as fentanyl and human trafficking. It also lacks the funding needed to make meaningful change. This approach leaves both our nations vulnerable.

Another issue completely ignored in its recent reform legislation is the problem of Canada’s tribal lands and how they have become hotbeds for drug trafficking. Organized criminal groups are exploiting legal loopholes and jurisdictional confusion to funnel drugs into the U.S. via these reservations. Areas such as the Akwesasne Mohawk Territory, which spans Quebec, Ontario, and New York, have long been exploited by smugglers. In Canada, the Six Nations Reserve near Ontario has also seen a rise in trafficking activity, with limited federal oversight. And in Michigan, the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe’s proximity to the border and insufficient cross-border coordination have made it a prime target for traffickers.

Canada’s leaders have unequally tariffed American goods, failed to meet NATO defense minimums, and rubber-stamped terrorists and traffickers through their customs and entry points for years. Even mismanagement of Canadian forestlands has resulted in wildfire smoke choking our air. Detroit ranked worst globally for air quality in 2023 because of it, and we’ve had many days this year of dangerous air, too. This must end. If we don’t act together, the U.S. will be forced to explore measures such as reciprocal tariffs and negotiate trade and security agreements to protect our communities, including closing tribal land loopholes. Canadians consider American words offensive, while Americans consider Canadian inaction deadly.

CONGRESS SENDS BILL TO TRUMP THAT CLASSIFIES FENTANYL AS SCHEDULE I DRUG

America made a convenient punching bag during Prime Minister Mark Carney and his Liberal Party’s recent campaign. I’m calling on Carney to partner with Trump to address this shared crisis. Securing our border isn’t partisan. Our elections are over; it is time to govern.

Look, our two nations are not going anywhere without the other. We’re married, joined at the hip. Our destinies are tied together as closely as our shared history and border. Peaceful and prosperous neighbors are also in America’s best interest, but it can no longer happen at America’s expense. I believe Canada wants to be a true partner, and I’m hopeful we can work as neighbors to strengthen our shared future. 

John James represents Michigan’s 10th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives and is a Michigan gubernatorial candidate.