The Surrey School District board has banned school trips to the United States due to the political tensions, but 91原创's trustees have not followed suit by bringing in a ban.
The local district does not have a blanket school field trip policy for international trips, instead using administrative procedures that review every trip request.
"Any new student trips to the United States will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis," explained Jo Abshire, the district communications manager. "The 91原创 School District is closely monitoring the situation and travel advisories issued by the federal government. As the safety and security of students is a priority, the district will make any adjustments needed for future international field trips. As per District Administrative Procedure 260 鈥� Student Field Trips, all international travel, including trips to the United States, is to be approved by an assistant superintendent."
Two Kootenay school districts won't allow any trips to the United States for as long as there is a risk of detention at the border.
School District 8, which includes schools in Nelson, Creston, Kaslo, Salmo, Crawford Bay and the Slocan Valley, cancelled two field trips to Silverwood Theme Park in Idaho that were to take place before the end of the academic year. The district said the decision is in line with an advisory by Global Affairs Canada, which ranks travel risk to the U.S. as "normal" but now warns Canadians could be detained at border crossings.
School District 5, in Cranbrook and Fernie region, is also pausing trips for the remainder of the school year with the exception of two band trips that were previously planned and paid for.
The decisions come as a result of the change in political climate in the United States since the election of Donald Trump's Republican government. According to Homeland Security, Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE) made 32,809 arrests in the first 50 days of Trump's presidency, compared to 33,242 arrests in the entire 2024 fiscal year.
- With files from Tyler Harper, Black Press Media