Unnecessary Security on the US-Canada Border?

(Sandro Contenta — GlobalPost)

The US Homeland Security Secretary causes a ruckus up north.

Desidero Fortunato is a Canadian citizen who regularly visits his second home in Blaine, Wash., crossing the border by car two or three times a week.

Last month, a U.S. border guard — who apparently had no cause for suspicion — ordered him to shut off his engine and get out of the car.

The Canadian penchant for politeness can, admittedly, be irritating. But the 54-year-old competitive dancer got more than he bargained for when he asked the guard to say, “please.” First came a blast of pepper spray in the face. Then a handful of guards threw him to the ground, pinned him with their knees and slapped on handcuffs.

Fortunato says the tense interrogation that followed eased only when the guards learned he was born in Portugal. [...]

In the end, Canada has little choice but to acquiesce to the thickening border. Its economic future, thanks to the North American Free Trade Agreement, relies on access to the American market. A loss of political sovereignty is the price of admission. Today it’s border security, tomorrow it will likely be changes to our immigration policies, which Napolitano has made clear are too lax. Read more here.