Thousands Of Canadian NEXUS Cards Have Been Revoked By US Officials & Here's Why

Thousands of Canadian travellers have had their NEXUS card confiscated by officials in the United States over the past five years, according to a new report.

Since 2016, border officials in the States have revoked as many as 12,216 Canadian NEXUS cards, while the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) have taken 3,591 cards from Americans.

The trusted traveller cards — which are designed to speed up border crossings for low-risk, pre-approved travellers — are held mostly by Canadians.

As of 2021, 77% of the 1.7 million NEXUS members are Canadian, while 21% are American and 2% are categorized as "other."

CBC News reports that while Americans make up a smaller percentage of card holders, officials in the U.S. are responsible for 77% of NEXUS card confiscations.

The report explains that it's pretty difficult to get the decision reversed once a NEXUS card has been revoked by officials, with one expert describing the process as "almost impossible."

The trusted traveller cards can be taken away if a passenger does "anything that is out of the ordinary at the border." This can include minor violations or mistakes like carrying too much cash, accidentally carrying prohibited food, or forgetting to declare all purchases.

What is a NEXUS card, anyway?

The NEXUS trusted traveller program is run by both the CBSA and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

It enables members to fast-track through long lines at customs and airports as they can use automated self-serve NEXUS kiosks and receive expedited clearance through security.

At land borders, card holders can make use of a "simplified entry process using dedicated vehicle lanes," too.

Although many Canadian travellers use their NEXUS card to travel to the U.S., others use it primarily for reducing wait times while travelling within Canada.