BLAINE, Wash. — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers are issuing five-year bans to Canadians at a higher-than-normal rate.

The Northern Light interviewed immigration lawyers to get the details.

Apparently the bans used to be issued in serious cases, like when non-citizens lied to a border agent or were caught working in the U.S. illegally.

But immigration lawyers now say that the bans are being issued more liberally.

When contacted for comment, a CBP spokesperson said that there has been a slight increase in the number of bans issued, but there has been no change in related policies.