In this session of Inside Policy Talks, the conversation centres on the U.S.-Canada border and a North American approach to border management and security. Alan Bersin, a former Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security and Commissioner of the US Customs and Border Protection, talks to Senior Fellow Alex Dalziel about the concept of modern border management. To maximize trade and minimize illicit cross-border activities, Bersin provides a window into US thinking on how a trilateral, pro-trade, security-serious, technology-infused border strategy can make North America more prosperous, more resilient and safer.
Key Points:
1. Conceptualizing the Border: Traditional concepts of the US-Canada border see it as a line separating the two countries. That is shifting towards understanding it as dynamic flows of people, goods, and information, which often have transnational causes and effects: “We need to think in terms of lines and flows rather than just boundary lines.” He highlights the role of transnational networks in exploiting these flows, through a range of illicit activities, including new forms of drug trafficking, mass migration and human smuggling, and terrorism, often aided by advanced technology.
2. The Fentanyl Challenge: Bersin notes that “We’re dealing not with the organic bulky narcotics of heroin cocaine marijuana but rather a synthetic poison.” Fentanyl poses a significant challenge for border security due to its potency, ease of transport, and the complex global supply chains involved in its production. Unlike traditional narcotics like heroin or cocaine, fentanyl is synthetic, produced in laboratories rather than relying on agricultural sources. This allows for greater production flexibility and smaller, more concealable shipments: Bersin points out that much of the fentanyl entering North America comes through non-traditional routes, particularly via the mail system, making it harder to detect than bulkier, organic drugs. Additionally, traffickers can chemically modify fentanyl and its ingredients to avoid detection. Its precursors originate in places like China, further complicating international cooperation on enforcement.
3. Trilateral Cooperation, Global Competitiveness: Bersin contends “We need less focus on Canadian-Mexican relations as potentially intruding on U.S.-Canada bilateral relations, and more focus on a continental future.” Mexico is crucial in North America’s economic and security landscape. He emphasizes deepening trilateral cooperation to address shared challenges like security, migration, and trade – and to remain globally Moving production closer to home—“near shoring” – creates a strategic advantage for North America, allowing it to enhance supply chain resilience. Trilateral cooperation can position North America as a global leader in economic growth and security.
4. Future Border Management: Border management must evolve to accommodate the complexities of modern trade and security threats. Advanced technologies, such as AI and “federated learning,” offer new tools, enabling data sharing without compromising national sovereignty and privacy laws. By using cutting-edge technology, such as non-intrusive inspection equipment and enhanced data-sharing capabilities, border authorities can improve detection of illicit activities while still facilitating legal trade. Bersin concludes that “This is the promise of federated learning… we can share signal without actually sharing the underlying data.”
For more from Macdonald-Laurier Institute’s National Security Project on the border and security, check out the Inside Policy Talks episodes on transnational organized crime and financial crime or our recent articles on the evolution of terrorism and immigration in Inside Policy.
