The shock of Nine Eleven

The suicide attacks on September 11, 2001 were carried out by 19 Islamic hijackers. In less than two hours two airplanes struck the twin towers of Manhattan’s World Trade Center; another targeted the Pentagon (the U.S. Defense Department headquarters in Arlington, Virginia); and the fourth crashed into a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

The ruins of the twin towers of the World Trade Center.

Since these tragic events, everything has changed along the border.

Louise Harpin’s and Jennie Bird’s reflections about “After  911” (captions available in both English and French). View the video with an English transcript.

Less than an hour after that second plane destroyed the second World Trade Center tower, the United States completely closed its northern border … without notifying the public in advance. When it reopened, controls had been tightened, and getting to Vermont had become difficult … even for those with family on the American side.

Louise Harpin and Jennie Bird aren’t as casual as they used to be about crossing the border…

Iboya Szabo-Hancock confirms that the situation has gotten a lot worse.

Iboya Szabo-Hancock’s observations about the customs officers after the 911 attacks (captions available in both English and French). View the video with an English transcript.

Customs Officer Wayne Kemp is also aware of this new reality.

Wayne Kemp’s reflections about the border after the 911 attacks (captions available in both English and French). View the video with an English transcript.