Niagara Falls, NY - CBP officers at the Whirlpool Bridge in Niagara Falls, N.Y. administratively arrested a 53-year-old Canadian woman enrolled in CBP's "trusted traveler" program.
On Friday, April 23, Canadian citizen Nina Marie Tosato from Niagara Falls, Ontario, attempted to enter the United States through the dedicated NEXUS only Whirlpool Bridge. Acting on intelligence information, CBP officers selected Tosato for a secondary interview. During the interview it was discovered that she was illegally employed as a general manager at a local Niagara Falls, N.Y. hotel. Tosato admitted to working in the United States without immigration authorization claiming she was involved in the daily operations of the local hotel.
CBP officers charged Tosato with making false statements and working in the United States without a work visa. Tosato's NEXUS enrollment was revoked and she received a lifetime bar for reentering the United States.
NEXUS members are informed upon enrollment that any violation of U.S. law or violation of the NEXUS program is grounds for termination from the program.
The NEXUS program allows pre-screened travelers expedited processing by United States and Canadian officials at dedicated processing lanes at designated northern border ports of entry, at NEXUS kiosks at Canadian Preclearance airports, and at marine reporting locations. Approved applicants are issued a photo-identification, proximity Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) card. Participants use the three modes of passage where they will either present their NEXUS card or have their iris scanned and make a declaration.