I have a Hypothetical question that I hope someone can answer....

If martial law or a Dictatorship were to occur in the US, what might that do to non US citizens trying to drive across the border ie: Getting out of the US say to Canada?

Can anyone help with this?

ww

but I would think the borders would be secured to prevent anyone from leaving.

I don't think closing the borders would be a high priority. Where would the manpower come from? They can't close the borders now, let alone put troops in the major cities AND close the borders AND keep troops in Iraq, AND invade Iran, AND put down the riots of well armed country folks who won't stand still for more government interference. Half of New England and most of the Pacific Northwest would outright secede from the union. It would be chaos, and the borders would be pretty porous except for a few big-city border towns. Thousands of miles of unpatrolled, unfenced Canadian border would be impossible to close.

that we (non citizens) could be much more help to US citizens if we were outside of your country as apposed to inside. That would be my thought anyway!

ww

But what the heck.

Once a country is identified as a significant source of visitors who are not genuine visitors -- whose intention is to stay indefinitely -- the Canadian government will ordinarily impose a visa requirement.

This means that anyone seeking entry at a port of entry (airport or border crossing) must have applied for and been granted an entry visa at a Canadian mission in their home country or somewhere else outside Canada. (If arriving by air, a refugee claim can be made on the spot by anyone with or without a visa.)

But of course I'd say that if such an event to occur, there would be more people coming to Canada from the US than we'd likely be able to do much about. In tanks and fighter planes.

Ironically, I just had this discussion with my fiancee. Here is how I would go down:
1) Some event will occur. Here or abroad as defined by some little by-law (which I am sure was discussed here) that keeps Bush in power. Prior to this, the Bush girls will come home, keep your E! on to see when. I am thinking Oct.
2) Congress will then mobilize to Impeachment. Its pretty clear cut, no arguement over Constitutionality on this one.
2.5) Mainstream television/radio disconnected - Control the information. Give out none. See a bar code or static on your cable/satellite on almost all of your stations? Now you know why. Call a neighbor first before grabbing the gun, though.
3) Congress will be arrested for Treason. Oh, Nancy, Harry, and Howard will be "accidentally" killed or "subduded permanantly" while being arrested. Basic military strategy, cut off the head of the snake.
4) The borders will close. The immediate concern will be for the general population. Customs will just turn everyone down coming or going. If the Michigan Militia wants to canoe over to Canada, Bush & Co. will think "Who cares?" So, if you want to get out, you can. I think that you will only have to be mildly creative to succeed.
5) Demilitarized D.C. - Why secure the borders when all Shrub needs to do is protect himself? We already know that Chaney has some really cool bunker out there, why not Bush as well?
6) Armed rioting, D.C. overthrown. Troops FINALLY get back from overseas. I figure that once the troops overseas catch wind, no general over there is going to live long enough for them to stop the troops from coming back. HOWEVER, Shrub will, of course, pull the plug on any easy means for them to come back. They have a war to win, or some such drivel. I am thinking it will take them about 2 months to get back. They will have to come in entirely by sea.
7) Bush and Company emerge... The booze will run out eventually.
8) Bush and Company have the first ever nationally televised execution... I am hoping for hanging. It's illegal here in IL, but I don't know about D.C.
9) We finally have emergency elections in about November of '09. I am thinking that the Dems will pretty much have something like a 90% majority at that point. There will have to be some additional considerations, like short term Sen. and the like due to deaths and convictions of many in Congress. It will be the galactic "reset" button on the entire American Political System.

Something to keep you warm at night... You will know the warning signs if this is starting to actually be executed. It is already in place, though. A Homeland Security resolution, an Attorney General that will use his judicial power to support it, blantant disregard for the Constitutional system, information control, and a slew of other things, again I am preaching to the choir on that one. Look for the signs of execution: Bush girls come home, total and udder silence from the White House, lack of Presidential visibility, some "catastrophic" event (The clause doesn't make clear what has to take place to execute the order. They may just use the Iraq war as a reason.), and I am sure there will be other obvious signs.
Here is hoping there ISN'T a second revolutionary war.
Otis