Trump Says Canada Is ‘Importing 3rd World Migrants’ As US Bans $1 Billion In Imports

US President Donald Trump has again attacked Canada’s immigration policy, accusing Ottawa of allowing migrants to enter “totally unchecked, totally unvetted” and warning that Washington may need to tighten security along the northern border.

In a Truth Social post on Monday, Trump said, “Many people are going into Canada right now from other parts of the world, and it's not a good situation.” He added, “We may need to secure the NORTHERN BORDER even more now because Canada is going the way of the UK!”

His remarks came days after he claimed Canada was “destroying itself” by allowing “millions and millions” of people into the country, without providing evidence for those figures. He has also described the arrivals as coming from “third world” countries.

Official Canadian data presents a different picture. Canada admitted 483,640 permanent residents in 2024, with 58 per cent entering through economic programmes, 22 per cent through family reunification and 20 per cent through refugee, humanitarian and other categories.

Ottawa has since moved to reduce immigration. Under its 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan, Canada is targeting 380,000 permanent resident admissions in 2026 and wants non-permanent residents to account for less than 5 per cent of the population by 2027.

The claim that migrants are entering “totally unchecked” also contrasts with Canada's stated procedures. Depending on the category, applicants can undergo biometric, criminality, security and medical screening, with Canadian immigration and border agencies assessing admissibility.

The immigration dispute comes as US-Canada trade tensions escalate.

The US on Tuesday brought into effect a ban covering nearly $1 billion of Canadian imports, including alcoholic beverages, some dairy products and motorcycles. Trade policy analyst Jacob Jensen estimated the affected imports at $967 million, based on 2025 figures. Alcoholic beverages account for about 87 per cent of the total.

The ban is small compared with roughly $880 billion in annual two-way trade, but marks another escalation in Trump's trade war with a longtime US ally.

Trump previously imposed 50 per cent tariffs on about $20 billion of Canadian imports, accusing Canada of discriminating against US dairy, automobile and alcohol producers. Ottawa responded with tariffs of 15, 25 or 50 per cent on US goods.

The newly banned products were already subject to tariffs. Trade attorney Patrick Childress said the 50 per cent duties had effectively made importing some Canadian goods uneconomical. The ban includes dairy products such as whey and motorcycles made by Quebec-based Bombardier Recreational Products.

The standoff could complicate efforts to renew the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has sought to reduce dependence on the US, which accounted for more than 70 per cent of Canadian exports last year. He wants to double Canada's non-US trade over the next decade.

Carney is also pursuing wider partnerships, including with India. He said India-Canada trade negotiations are making “good progress”, with both sides aiming to conclude talks by the G20 summit in December.

Ottawa said its priority is protecting Canadian workers, farmers, families and businesses while diversifying trade. Trump, meanwhile, said he expects Canada to return to negotiations, saying, “I think a deal will be made but it's gonna be fair.”