Toronto/New York: Concerns are growing among Punjabi truck drivers in Canada after reports emerged that several drivers travelling to the United States are facing visa cancellations and entry restrictions following intensified inspections at border checkpoints.
According to reports circulating within the trucking community, border officials are carrying out stricter screening procedures that include examining mobile phones and digital activity during routine crossings between Canada and the US.
Drivers allege that authorities are checking devices for explicit material, suspicious online activity, illegal content, and communications linked to criminal or weapons-related discussions. If objectionable material is found, officials may reportedly revoke visas, suspend travel permissions, or impose restrictions on future entry into the United States.
There are also claims that refusal to unlock mobile phones or share passwords during inspection may result in denial of entry at the border.
The issue has created anxiety among Punjabi-origin truckers, many of whom rely on cross-border transportation work for their livelihood and regularly travel between the two countries as part of commercial freight operations.
Some members of the community have claimed that multiple drivers have already faced action following these checks. A driver identified as Taranjit Singh Uppal reportedly stated that several individuals associated with a transport company in Nova Scotia had their visas cancelled after border inspections.
Reports citing border enforcement data suggest that thousands of device inspections have been carried out this year under enhanced security measures. However, no official statement has indicated that Punjabi drivers are being specifically targeted.
Authorities on both sides of the border are understood to be conducting broader immigration and security-related enforcement operations aimed at identifying criminal activity and ensuring compliance with entry regulations.
The reported actions have nevertheless sparked discussion within Canada’s Punjabi trucking sector, which forms a significant part of the North American transport industry. Community members are now urging drivers to remain cautious about digital content stored on personal devices while travelling internationally.
So far, US and Canadian authorities have not publicly commented on individual cases linked to the reported inspections.
