Upper Nicola Band issues U.S. travel advisory

The Upper Nicola Band (UNB) has issued a travel advisory cautioning against travel to the United States of America.

The advisory, which was issued Friday (Jan. 30), follows a travel advisory issued by the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) last week in response to immigration enforcement raids and the detention of some Indigenous people.

“Upper Nicola Band leadership has become increasingly concerned about the political unrest currently unfolding in the United States, which we fear could be unsafe for First Nations peoples,” the Upper Nicola Band’s advisory said.

“As we strongly condemn all forms of violence which have occurred as a result of actions by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, we have issued a travel advisory regarding travel to the U.S. and urge all members who must cross the border to take precautions and be aware of their rights.”

This is the first known instance of a Kamloops-area First Nation issuing a travel advisory following “increased scrutiny by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Others, like Tkemlúps te Secwépemc, amplified the AFN’s advisory on their social media platforms.

“These actions are a violation of our inherent rights and a breach of the Jay Treaty, which guarantees the free passage of First Nations peoples across the border,” AFN National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak said. “We call on [U.S. President Donald] Trump’s administration to fully uphold First Nations peoples’ right to cross the border without harassment or undue hindrance.”

“First Nations, as the original peoples, were here on these lands in a good way. And we’ve shared in these lands, not for people to come here and tell us one way or another how to cross.”

In its advisory, UNB says band members that must travel to the United States should exercise extreme caution, carry proper identification including Status Card and a valid Passport, and check all relevant government travel advisories and information, which they note may change from time to time.

“The exercise of our inherent rights should not come at the expense of our safety and well-being,” the UNB advisory added. “When the safety of Indigenous peoples is compromised, Indigenous sovereignty is compromised.”

“Although the Jay Treaty reaffirms our right to travel freely to and from the United States, we expect that not every federal law enforcement officer and ICE agent will be familiar with our rights to cross the border freely.”

UNB says people in need of emergency Canadian Consulate services in the United States should reach out via email, online, or by phone at 1-888-949-999