U.S. Travel Warning Sparks Concerns Among Canadians
On February 22, the U.S. Embassy in Mexico issued a travel warning urging Americans to shelter in place following the death of cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes during federal operations. This event led to a surge in violence in popular tourist destinations like Puerto Vallarta, prompting thousands of travelers, including Canadians, to cancel their trips to Mexico. In response, the market research company Leger conducted a survey of 1,659 Canadians to assess the impact of these events on the travel sector.
The findings revealed that despite the travel advisories, 46% of Canadians still plan to visit Mexico. The survey also provided insights into Canadians’ perceptions of safety in both the U.S. and Mexico. Interestingly, approximately one in six travelers believes Mexico is a safer destination than the U.S.
Safety Perceptions: A Mixed View
According to the Leger survey, while more Canadians perceive the U.S. as safer than Mexico, a significant percentage hold the opposite view. About 17% of the participants said they perceive Mexico as a safer country, with this number rising to 28% among those who have traveled to Mexico in recent years.
In contrast, 44% of the participants claimed the U.S. is safer, while 21% said the two countries are equally safe. More specifically, 6% of Canadians said traveling to Mexico is “much safer than the U.S.,” with that figure increasing to 10% among those who recently traveled to Mexico. Although the survey did not ask for reasons behind these views, increased scrutiny at the Canada-U.S. border may be a contributing factor.
Shifting Perceptions of U.S. Safety
A report published by the Association of Canadian Studies on May 6, based on a Leger survey, found that 52% of Canadians now believe traveling to the U.S. is no longer safe. Tracy Lamourie, a Toronto-based publicist, told local news outlet WCAX that while the Canadian boycott of U.S. travel initially began for political reasons, safety has become a major concern.
“Increasingly more and more now, the news is not just a matter of boycott, disagreeing. It’s now in this category of places that don’t seem safe to travel in,” Lamourie stated.
Canadians are particularly concerned about the increased scrutiny at the Canada-U.S. border and the possibility of detentions. Over the past few months, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents have detained hundreds of Canadians for various reasons, ranging from name mix-ups to minor offenses dating back decades.
Rising Detentions of Canadians in 2025
According to CTV News, over 200 Canadians have spent time in ICE custody in 2025, compared with 137 in 2024. These numbers include at least six children, one of whom was held for 51 days. Canadians have been detained for a variety of reasons, including minor infractions.
For example, in December 2025, Canadian citizen Greg Williams was crossing the busiest Canada-U.S. border checkpoint connecting Windsor and Detroit when 15 agents surrounded his vehicle. “It was turn the car off, hands on the dash, and within seconds, there were 15 agents surrounding the car,” Williams told CTV News. He was then handcuffed and detained for a couple of hours before being released. It turned out officers were looking for a separate Greg Williams with a criminal record.
Another Canadian citizen was flagged at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston in November 2025 due to a minor drug possession conviction dating back 22 years. The man remains stuck in an ICE detention center, as recently reported by CBC.
As the recent Leger survey highlights, Canadian travelers continue to be concerned about U.S. safety levels, which may be one of the reasons behind their choice to opt for other destinations for their holidays. At present, it remains unclear for how long the Canadian boycott will drag on.
