Shifting, Securitizing, and Streamlining: An Exploration of Preclearance Policy in the Pacific Northwest

ABSTRACT

This paper conducts an exploration of preclearance activities along the BC-Washington State border. Through an analysis of current issues associated with preclearance activities, and interviews with key agencies involved in the implementation of passenger preclearance policy in Southern Vancouver Island, the paper focuses a critical eye on some of the legal, social, and political ramifications of passenger preclearance policy in the region. Moreover, the study seeks to test the core hypotheses of the Borders in Globalization research program which state that bordering processes in the twenty-first century tend to straddle the boundary line, and are increasingly a-territorial.

KEYWORDS:

• Security
• pre-clearance border technology
• cross-border cooperation
• Cascadia

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada [grant number 895-2012-1022].