RIGHTS AT THE BORDER, RIGHTS WHEN DETAINED If you’ve started to assume that you have few rights when crossing an international border in this age of heightened security, it might not just be paranoia. Every sovereign country reserves the right to deny entry to non-residents for any reason. Apart from the UN Universal Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms’ (which is, let’s face it, unenforceable) call to provide refuge to those persecuted in their home countries, there are virtually no internationally agreed-upon regulations governing border crossings. In general, each country has wide latitude in questioning and searching would-be visitors and immigrants. Most Western countries limit the invasive power of law enforcement and border agencies when it comes to re-admitting citizens and residents, but there are virtually no limits when it comes to non-residents. As a non-resident all of the burden of proof of admissibility is on you, and it is absolutely your responsibility to fulfill whatever Visa requirements international trade and goodwill (or hostility) has dictated. Here are a few specific cases:   YOUR RIGHTS WHEN ENTERING CANADA AS A… RESIDENT: As a resident you cannot be subject to warrantless search on re-entry “without reason,” but the latitude granted