On October 18th, 2025, 68-year-old retired nuclear health physicist Kevin Larson was stopped by U.S. border guards while trying to cross into Michigan. He was detained for three hours, during which time he was ordered to submit to a DNA test, or risk a year-long jail sentence. Lawmakers on both sides of the border are demanding answers as to why this blatant breach of privacy. Considering the tensions that have been rising between these two countries, this overreach by border guards is another black mark in an already strained relationship.
“Submit to DNA Testing or Risk Jail Time”
Larson, who has no criminal record, was traveling from his home in Kincardine, Ontario, to attend a “No Kings” protest in Port Huron. These demonstrations have been organized to oppose Trump’s ever-more authoritarian policies and actions. The rallies use the term “No Kings” in reference to the United States’ founding principles. As one can imagine, they’ve been highly opposed by the current president. Those who attend the rallies protest legislative changes by Trump’s that protesters have called “tyrannical”.
Hundreds of thousands of people have marched in these protests over the past year. The largest protest have occurred in Philadelphia, New York City, and Chicago. Thousands of Canadians have been offering support by hosting “No Tyrants” protests from Vancouver, Toronto, Owen Sound, and Montreal. Larson, who has family in Georgia and California, was travelling across the border to protest alongside them. Many people have family members in both countries, and have appreciated free travel across the border on a regular basis.
Until now.
According to records Larson shared, the reason he was denied entry was “insufficient evidence for his intended purpose of entry”. He was fingerprinted, had his phone searched, and was coerced into submitting to a DNA test cheek swab. When asked why he agreed to the DNA test, he said he didn’t want to risk jail time. Or a five-year ban on entering the USA.
“I have a cousin in Georgia that we visit regularly, and I’m not a criminal, so they’re not going to find anything, and I wanted to make sure I could always go across the border.”
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Further Damage to a Longstanding Relationship
The relationship between the USA and Canada has long been a mutually beneficial one. These close allies have had strong economic ties, as well as cultural, historical, and defensive partnerships. During times of crisis, emergency responders have crossed the border on both sides. For example, firefighters from both countries are often deployed to help when blazes break out. Citizens in the USA and Canada have often crossed the borders to attend events, to visit relatives, and to experience the beauty of each other’s countries.
This close relationship has become strained in recent years, with Trump ramping up tariffs with the intention of “wrecking Canada’s economy”. His threats to make Canada the “51st State” hasn’t helped either. Canadians have been boycotting American goods, services, and entertainment, as well as travel south of the border. The “snowbirds” who normally fled to places like Florida, Texas, and Arizona are now travelling to Mexico, Spain, Portugal, and Italy instead.
Larson described his experience at the border as “excessive, unnecessary, and disturbing”. This echoes similar sentiments from others who have experienced mistreatment by U.S. border guards. In fact, according to a recent survey, 43 percent of Canadians don’t plan or trying to visit the USA any time soon.
In fact, many Canadians are deeply concerned about what has been unfolding in recent years. Those who grew up in Europe during the World War II are saying that it’s like watching history repeat itself. Larson’s mother-in-law was a small child living in Germany in the early 1940s. After observing how things are unfolding in the U.S., she has apparently been saying things like: “This is how it started in Germany”.
U.S. Democratic Reps. Jamie Raskin and Debbie Dingell are making official inquiries into what happened to Larson.
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