Latest news with #ChristopherLandry
CTV News
15-07-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
New Hampshire resident denied re-entry to U.S. after New Brunswick visit
A Canadian living in New Hampshire is stuck in New Brunswick after getting turned away from the border. A visit to family in New Brunswick has turned into a prolonged ordeal for Christopher Landry, a longtime New Hampshire resident who was denied re-entry into the United States. Landry, who has lived in the U.S. since he was three, is now separated from his partner and children, raising concerns about the relationship between Canada and its southern neighbour. Landry was stopped at the border in Houlton, Maine, and told he was inadmissible due to a marijuana conviction nearly 20 years ago. 'I was absolutely shocked,' said Landry, who works in manufacturing and has a green card. 'I crossed the same port of entry since 2007, with no issues at all. 'It's terrible. Everything in my life is essentially put on hold. My primary concern right now is, how is my family going to survive at home without me?' Moncton lawyer Mike Murphy, a former New Brunswick justice minister, expressed surprise at Landry's situation. 'It brings new light to the relationship,' Murphy said. 'It really concerns me because now Canada is being treated like really every other nation in the world, despite our social and economic integration. 'I think that Mr. Landry's dilemma is going to be something we see a lot more of. It's going to permeate multiple levels of our judicial system and our regulatory system.' Mike Murphy Moncton lawyer Mike Murphy is pictured. (Source: Josh Smith/CTV News Atlantic) Murphy advises Canadians living in the U.S. to consider becoming U.S. citizens and to carefully examine their past records. 'You're dealing with the United States giving new definition to previous old terms,' he said. 'There are new measures at the border where they are looking at some of your social media. It's a new age that's descended upon us, so be very careful before you leave the United States.' He also suggested the Canadian government consider retaliatory measures, noting many Americans with connections to Canada could face similar issues. 'Mr. Trump and his administration, they have a lot of Canadian friends that might just fall into the same category as Mr. Landry,' Murphy said. 'What happens when they come back to Canada and they're going back and they've had a conviction for marijuana possession or drinking and driving in New York or Wisconsin or California? It may change.' Landry is currently working to clear the old charges so he can return home. 'I'm hopeful that we can get this cleaned up and I can go home and resume my life,' he said. Landry said he never pursued citizenship because he is a third-generation green card holder, but now intends to apply if he is allowed back into the U.S. 'My grandparents held green cards and lived in the United States for over 40 years. And my mother was a green card holder, spent her entire life as a green card holder,' he said. 'I feel like these policies are doing a lot more harm than good… People may make mistakes but it's what you do after the fact that counts.' Christopher Landry Christopher Landry was denied re-entry to New Hampshire after visiting New Brunswick. (Source: Josh Smith/CTV News Atlantic) For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
Global News
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Global News
‘Feels like death': Canadian-American separated from family, denied re-entry at border
For more than four decades, Canadian-born Christopher Landry has lived in the United States and holds a green card. The 46-year-old moved to America as a toddler, and now has a wife, five children, a job, and a home in New Hampshire. If you ask him where his allegiances lie, he describes it as split between the two countries. 'I'm a Can-American, I would say. I'm deeply rooted in my Canadian pride, and I also have a deep love for the United States as well,' he said. He visits family in New Brunswick annually, and this summer was no different. But when he tried to cross the border with two of his daughters in Houlton, Maine, last week to re-enter the U.S., he was stopped by border agents. 'Long story short, after three hours of interrogation … I was told to turn around and seek a pathway to have my case reviewed by an immigration judge,' he said. Story continues below advertisement Landry says the agents had questioned him about prior convictions from 2004 and 2007, which were related to cannabis possession and driving with a suspended licence. 2:41 Know your rights when crossing the Canada-US border He says he was told if he tries to go back to the U.S. again, he will be detained while waiting for the case to be heard — which could take months or even years. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'There's really no easy pathway to an immigration judge outside of the country. And the quickest pathway right now is through detainment. And that's a scary thought in itself,' he said. 'So I'm looking for a legal pathway to try to get this exonerated and be able to go back to the U.S.' His daughters have since been able to re-enter the U.S, but he remains in Grand-Barachois, N.B., and is staying with his grandmother for now. He's also concerned about getting back to his job, and earning income for them. Story continues below advertisement 'It feels like death. It's hard. I miss them a lot,' he said about his wife and children. 'Can't even think about it. I just got to stay focused on what I got to do.' Landry says he's made many trips since 2007 and he wasn't aware this could be an issue. In the meantime, he's been fielding calls from lawyers and his senator to try to find a way out of this mess. 'I'm a third-generation green card holder. We've always lived as green card holders in peace and alongside with all our American neighbours,' he said. 'And we never felt threatened as far as our status was concerned. ' His grandmother, Clara, who also holds a green card said she was surprised this happened to her grandson. 'We travelled back and forth on a green card for 40 ears. Never had any trouble, they said, as long as we had the green card,' she said. 'We didn't need a passport. We don't need anything else.' Nova Scotia-based immigration lawyer Blair Hodgman, who does not represent Landry, says controlled substance convictions always meant people were inadmissible, but that there may be more careful attention nowadays. Story continues below advertisement 'If you have … controlled substance conviction, you're inadmissible and you're required to be detained. So I think the only difference is I guess they didn't catch on to it before,' said Hodgman. 'They probably weren't scrutinizing him, but now they're trying to catch everyone they can.' While Landry was not permitted to vote in the U.S. elections, he was a Donald Trump supporter. Since his story was made public, he says he's received negative comments from 'both sides' of the political spectrum. 'I don't agree with (Trump's) policies right now. He's hurting a lot of people and a lot people that haven't done anything wrong … people make mistakes but it's what you do after you make those mistakes that really counts,' he said. 'I don't support illegal immigration, I don't support breaking the law. All I wanted was a better economy and a better future for my kids, and it's, it's really a … we're feeling the backlash of it right now, and it's been hard.'
Yahoo
13-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
He's lived in the U.S. since he was 3. At 46, he was denied re-entry at the border
When Christopher Landry was making his annual trip to New Brunswick from New Hampshire, he didn't think he would run into any problems. But on his way home crossing the border to the U.S. in Houlton, Maine, he found out he wasn't allowed back. "My family depends on me for food, shelter, clothing, everything," he said. "So I'm missing that. It's my entire life I'm missing." He said border officers told him, because of convictions in 2004 and 2007 for possession of marijuana and driving with a suspended licence, he was subject to detention. WATCH | 'Every detail in my life has been disrupted,' says U.S. resident stuck in New Brunswick: At the time, he was given a suspended sentence and paid his fine. "Every little detail has been put on hold, from my dog's veterinary appointments to taking my kids to the doctor's appointments and paying bills … my life has been disrupted." Landry was born in New Brunswick and moved to Peterborough, N.H., 43 years ago, when he was three. He is a legal U.S. resident, and has a partner, five children and a job in manufacturing in his home state. He comes up to visit his extended family and grandparents near Shediac, N.B., at least once a year. "My family is quite distraught," said Landry. "We're also going to prepare ourselves for the worst, because at this point we just don't know what's going to happen." He said he will try to make the most of his time in New Brunswick, including visiting the lobster festival with two of his daughters. Landry was told to see an immigration judge for a hearing to find out what happens next. Blair Hodgman, a U.S. and Canadian immigration lawyer with the firm Allen and Hodgman, says it's an unusual situation, but anyone with an American criminal history should be wary of travel right now. "Normally, a permanent resident would not be refused admission for an offence like that," she said. "When you have a criminal history in the United States, it doesn't go away. "It's surprising, but it's not surprising" She said Landry should speak with a U.S. lawyer in New Hampshire, and that he has the right to go before an immigration judge and ask for bond and ask for cancellation of removal to sort out his rights. "I would tell him, do not, absolutely do not try to go to the United States without retaining a U.S. immigration lawyer in the United States." Hodgman is a dual citizen in the U.S. and Canada herself, and lives in Nova Scotia now. "It's frightening to me what's going on in the United States and the threats even against U.S. lawyers, against U.S. citizens," she said. "It's a very frightening scenario. So I'm very happy to be here in Nova Scotia." She advised travellers that if they have any form of irregularity in their history to get help from competent counsel before leaving the country. "Always be truthful," she said. "Usually, nothing disastrous can befall you if you're truthful." Landry said he's critical of U.S. President Donald Trump's scrutiny of the border between Canada and the U.S. "In the United States … it doesn't matter if you're a better person now, 20 years later, they're going to hold it against you." He said he was supportive of Trump before he was elected, but Landry now says he feels misled. "If I had known that he was going to do this to hundreds, if not thousands of people across America, whether they deserve it or not, like, I don't know if I would have supported that." "As far as supporting this administration, it definitely has changed my views. I think it's gone too far."
CBC
11-07-2025
- CBC
He's lived in the U.S. since he was 3. At 46, he was denied re-entry at the border
Social Sharing When Christopher Landry was making his annual trip to New Brunswick from New Hampshire, he didn't think he would run into any problems. But on his way home crossing the border to the U.S. in Houlton, Maine, he found out he wasn't allowed back. "My family depends on me for food, shelter, clothing, everything." he said. "So I'm missing that. It's my entire life I'm missing." He said border officers told him, because of convictions in 2004 and 2007 for possession of marijuana and driving with a suspended licence, he was subject to detention. WATCH | 'Every detail in my life has been disrupted', says U.S. resident stuck in New Brunswick: New Hampshire man wonders when he'll get home after being denied entry to the U.S 2 hours ago Duration 1:57 Chris Landry was born in New Brunswick but moved to the U.S when he was just three. Despite crossing the border every year, without issue, to visit family in Grand-Barachois, N.B., the 46-year old is now wondering when and how he'll get back to his wife, children and job in New Hampshire. At the time, he was given a suspended sentence and paid his fine. "Every little detail has been put on hold, from my dog's veterinary appointments to taking my kids to the doctor's appointments and paying bills ... my life has been disrupted." Landry was born in New Brunswick and moved to Peterborough, New Hampshire, 43 years ago, when he was three-years-old. He is a legal U.S. resident, and has a partner, five children and a job in manufacturing in his home state, and comes up to visit his extended family and grandparents near Shediac, N.B., at least once a year. "My family is quite distraught." said Landry. "We're also going to prepare ourselves for the worst, because at this point we just don't know what's going to happen." He said he will try to make the most of his time in New Brunswick, including visiting the lobster festival with two of his daughters. Landry was told to see an immigration judge for a hearing to find out what happens next. Blair Hodgman, a U.S. and Canadian immigration lawyer with the firm Allen and Hodgman, says it's an unusual situation, but anyone with an American criminal history should be wary of travel right now. "Normally a permanent resident would not be refused admission for an offence like that," she said. "When you have a criminal history in the United States, it doesn't go away. "It's surprising, but it's not surprising" She said Landry should speak with a U.S. lawyer in New Hampshire, and that he has the right to go before an immigration judge and ask for bond and ask for cancellation of removal to sort out his rights. "I would tell him, do not, absolutely do not try to go to the United States without retaining a U.S. immigration lawyer in the United States." Hodgman is a dual citizen in the U.S. and Canada herself, and lives in Nova Scotia now. "It's frightening to me what's going on in the United States and the threats even against U.S. lawyers, against U.S. citizens," she said. "It's a very frightening scenario. So I'm very happy to be here in Nova Scotia." She advised travellers that if they have any form of irregularity in their history to get help from competent counsel before leaving the country. "Always be truthful," she added. "Usually nothing disastrous can befall you if you're truthful." Trump administration 'gone too far,' said Landry Landry says he's critical of U.S. President Donald Trump's scrutiny of the border between Canada and the U.S. "In the United States … It doesn't matter if you're a better person now, 20 years later, they're going to hold it against you." He said he was supportive of Trump before he was elected, but he said he felt misled. "If I had known that he was going to do this to hundreds, if not thousands of people across America, whether they deserve it or not, like, I don't know if I would have supported that," he said.
