The pending purchase by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement of 20 bullet-and bomb-resistant armored vehicles from a Canadian manufacturer – first revealed by The Independent – has generated intense backlash north of the border, where lawmakers are now exploring ways they might halt the multimillion-dollar sale.
Following The Independent’s report on Monday, Jenny Kwan, a New Democratic Party member of Parliament who represents Vancouver East, said she was “deeply” and “profoundly” troubled by the news in light of credible accusations of human rights abuses by the U.S. immigration enforcement agency. It has so far made nearly 600,000 arrests in 2025, and has faced fierce criticism over its aggressive, unyielding tactics.
“I think Canadians expect our industries and our government to uphold human rights domestically and internationally, and not enable the further militarization of an organization whose conduct already puts vulnerable people at great risk,” Kwan told The Canadian Press. “This contract raises serious questions about Canada’s role and responsibility when it comes to our technology and products being deployed abroad.”
Kwan said Canadian law contains intentional loopholes that allow military gear to be sold to the United States without the same level of governmental oversight that would be applied to that same gear being exported to other nations. She told the wire service that she will be proposing revisions to a bill she sponsored in January, prohibiting sales of military items to problematic regimes, that would close those loopholes and prevent such materiel from going to the U.S.
“It’s profoundly concerning that a Canadian manufacturer is supplying specialized military grade vehicles built to withstand bullets and bomb blasts to an agency whose practices have long raised alarms amongst humanitarian organizations,” Kwan told The Globe and Mail.
In a television interview with Global News, Canada’s former Minister of Foreign Affairs Lloyd Axworthy, who served under Prime Minister Jean Chrétien and now chairs the World Refugee & Migration Council, called for the Canadian government to intervene.
“Are we prepared to stand up to Mr. Trump and the illegality of what he's doing and say that Canada still is a voice for fairness and justice and protection of people's rights?” Axworthy asked.
