Spend your winters down south? Prepare to be fingerprinted at the border

Canadian snowbirds are starting to flock south for the winter — but many are getting quite the surprise when they reach the American border. 

U.S. officials have confirmed that anyone entering the country for more than 30 days, via land, must agree to be photographed and fingerprinted. 

The new regulations stem from U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent executive order that requires many foreign visitors staying a month or longer to register with the government.

How are snowbirds reacting to the new rules? Are any refusing to be fingerprinted, choosing instead to turn around at the border and head home? Do they really have any other option?

Joining us on tonight’s episode of Closer Look is a person who knows the rules as well as anyone: Stephen Fine, president of the company Snowbird Advisor. As you can imagine, he’s been inundated with questions in recent days.

Hosted by Village Media’s Michael Friscolanti and Scott Sexsmith, and produced by Derek Turner, Closer Look is a new daily podcast that goes way beyond the headlines with insightful, in-depth conversations featuring our reporters and editors, leading experts, key stakeholders and big newsmakers.

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