'Canadian lawmakers demand stop to ICE armored vehicle sale following report by The Independent'

The revelation that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement intends to purchase 20 bomb- and bullet-resistant armored vehicles from a Canadian manufacturer has triggered strong political backlash in Canada, where legislators are examining potential ways to halt the multimillion-dollar agreement.

According to a sole-source justification issued by ICEs Office of Acquisition Management, Roshel LLCbased in Brampton, Ontariowas deemed the only supplier capable of meeting the agencys delivery demands and technical specifications. The finalized contract, valued at $7,234,926.20, authorizes the acquisition of twenty Roshel Senator STANAG 4569 Level 2/B7 Emergency Response Tactical Vehicles.

The Senator ERV is certified to withstand blasts equivalent to 8 kilograms of TNT and is equipped with B7 ballistic protection designed to stop .50-caliber rounds. ICE stated that Roshel could supply all vehicles within 30 days, while four U.S. manufacturers reportedly could not meet the same timeline. The agency argued that delays would hinder its ability to rapidly deploy essential operational resources.

Thousands of similar Roshel vehicles have been shipped to Ukraine for use in its defense against Russia, but the prospect of supplying them to ICE has raised concerns in Canada, where critics point to long-standing allegations of excessive force and human rights violations by the U.S. immigration agency.

Following publication of the report, Member of Parliament Jenny Kwan described the news as deeply troubling, arguing that Canada should not contribute to the militarization of an organization accused of endangering vulnerable people. She emphasized that gaps in Canadian export law allow military-grade equipment to be shipped to the United States with significantly less oversight than exports to other countries. Kwan said she will seek amendments to her earlier legislation to close those loopholes.

Former Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy urged the government to intervene, questioning whether Canada is willing to challenge U.S. policies under President Donald Trump. Advocacy groups echoed this stance, noting that Canadabound by the Arms Trade Treatyhas previously blocked exports of sensitive equipment when human rights concerns were identified.

Despite this, Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand said the federal government had not been consulted about the sale but indicated she would raise the issue with U.S. officials if necessary.

The public response in Canada has been similarly intense, with social media users condemning the idea of supplying ICE with armored vehicles. A petition titled Stop the Contract: No Canadian Weapons to ICE collected nearly 6,000 signatures within a single day, urging national leaders to prevent complicity in alleged abuses against migrant families.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford, however, welcomed the deal, praising Roshels manufacturing capabilities and celebrating the international order as a business success for the province. Roshels CEO Roman Shimonov dismissed the controversy, questioning why such scrutiny was not applied to other Canadian exports.

The uproar unfolds amid heightened tensions in U.S.Canada relations. President Trump has promoted an America First Trade Policy, repeatedly criticized Canada, and threatened broad tariffs on Canadian goods. While Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney are set to meet during the FIFA World Cup draw in Washington, trade discussions are not expected to be on the agenda.

Author: Grace Ellison