A Cautionary Tale about Traveling out of the U.S. - New Hampshire resident unable to return from Canada

Since January 2025, traveling out of the U.S. seems risky. For one man who has dual citizenship in the U.S. and Canada, and lives in New Hampshire, after visiting Canada, the U.S. Border Patrol won't let him return home. All because of 2 misdemeanors from 2007, for which he already made amends. 

  Earlier this year, a student from the Netherlands studying in the U.S. was blocked from returning because of his anti-trump social media posts. Although a U.S. citizen cannot be denied entry into the United States even if their social media posts raise concerns with border officials,  the Border Patrol can confiscate your phone or computer and delay your return.  Today's blog is a story about the NH Resident who remains stuck in Canada.

New Hampshire resident unable to return from Canada after being stopped at Maine border

  Jul 9, 2025 By Mike Moses, WMUR reporter 

MANCHESTER, N.H. — A man who has lived in the United States since he was 3 and raised a family in New Hampshire has found himself blocked from returning home from Canada.

Speaking exclusively to WMTW sister station WMUR, Chris Landry said he was held for questioning and sent back to Canada on Sunday, apparently because of several misdemeanor offenses from about 20 years ago.

"I never expected that I wouldn't be able to go back home," Landry said.

Landry, 46, said he took a trip to Canada like he has done for the past 40 years. But this time, he couldn't come back home to New Hampshire. "It was scary," he said. "I felt like I was being treated like a criminal."

The legal U.S. resident who is a Canadian national said he was denied entry at the border in Maine this weekend. He said he was held for three hours with two of his five children and turned back to Canada over old misdemeanor offenses tied to marijuana and a suspended license from 2004 and 2007.

"It's really a living nightmare is what it is," Landry told WMUR.

Court documents show Landry was convicted of the drug-related offenses and received two 60-day jail sentences that were suspended. "I went to court, paid my fines and never got in trouble again since 2007," he said.

Landry has reached out to members of the state's congressional delegation for help. "We will check in with our offices, and there is a standard protocol we go through to try to see if there are ways we can be of assistance," said U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-New Hampshire.

Landry's family in Peterborough is connecting with him virtually as they wait for answers. "We need him here," said Landry's partner, Jessica Bekier. "I need him here. He's my support."

Landry said he's not giving up and is determined to hug his family again in the Granite State. "But one way or another, we're going to get through it one way or another," he said. "We're going to be together again."

WMUR-TV, Manchester, NH contacted U.S. Customs and Border Protection for comment on Tuesday. A U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesperson released the following statement about the matter on Wednesday morning. Possessing a green card is a privilege, not a right, and under our nation’s laws, our government has the authority to revoke a green card if our laws are broken and abused. Lawful Permanent Residents presenting at a U.S. port of entry with previous criminal convictions may be subject to mandatory detention and/or may be asked to provide additional documentation to be set up for an immigration hearing."