No border please

An interesting story was told in yesterday's New York times, the one about a sleepy little town settled on the US-Canada's border. The town is called Stanstead in Quebec and Derby line in Vermont.

There is actually some border stations on the main streets of this little town but on the other ones one can freely go from Canada to the US. Sometimes, it is even impossible to tell in which country you're in.

I know that because I travelled throught this little town in the summer of 2005. It was really cool. Some of the buildings are on the border itself like the Opera house and the library (in the picture).

Some houses are on the US side but the driveway is on the Canadian one.



The town has been like this for ever and now the authorities are trying to change this. They are affraid of a potential terrorist threat and of illegal immigration. To me, this is just non-sense, there is no threat at all and illegals immigrants can easely avoid the border town by crossing into Canada throught the nearby fields and or forets.

On top of that the local authorities are not willing to disclose to the public what exactly is at risk. How many illegal immigrants are we talking about?

The way of life of this charming city is at risk of disappearing. People will be less likely to travel to the other side to go grocery shopping, see friends etc...

I believe that cooperation between the two countries border agencies is the best way to address security issues and not barriers that only complicate everyday lifes.