Girl Guides of Canada to suspend U.S. trips over Trump administration policies

CBC

2 days ago

Girl Guides of Canada is suspending upcoming trips to the United States over concerns the Trump administration's changes at the border could affect some of its members.
The organization says previously approved and future trips south of the border will be paused as of Sept. 1.
"This decision is rooted in our commitment to inclusivity and the safety of all our members. It was prompted by the recent restrictions put on equal entry into the United States, as some members may hold citizenship from non-Canadian countries and could be impacted by the restrictions," read an emailed statement.
"At Girl Guides of Canada, we prioritize creating a safe, inclusive and accepting environment for all members. These values extend to the travel experiences we offer."
Trips this month will go ahead, the organization said. Later trips will be rescheduled to a different location.
Since taking office, U.S. President Donald Trump has enacted harsh immigration policies including travel bans from some countries, immigration raids and mass deportations.
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The Girl Guides is the latest organization in Canada to stop travelling to the U.S. over changes at the border, as some Canadian schools have done the same. Canadians, as individuals, have also boycotted travel to the nation's closest neighbour in response to the administration's volatile tariff policies.
Stories of U.S. officials searching travellers' smart phones, quizzing Canadians about their allegiance to the U.S., detaining legal residents, including Canadians and deporting alleged criminals to an El Salvadoran prison without due process, resulting in at least one wrongful deportation, have contributed to the boycott.
Statistics Canada data shows a drop in the number of Canadians heading south this year. Return trips from the U.S. by car and air declined by 33.1 and 22.1 per cent in June compared to the year before, respectively.
The Girl Guides of Canada did not say how many trips would be affected as the number "varies every year."
In an email, Scouts Canada — a separate but similar organization — said it was not pausing trips to the U.S. but did not rule out suspensions as a possibility.
"Our approach remains rooted in our commitment to ensuring safe, inclusive, and equitable experiences for all youth and volunteers in our programs, at home and abroad," the statement read.
"We are closely monitoring the situation and will continue to update our approach as needed, with particular attention to how emerging U.S. border policies may affect Scouts who are not Canadian citizens."