FACT CHECK: Did Joe Biden Sign Away The Sovereignty Of The United States?

A video shared on Facebook claims President Joe Biden signed away the sovereignty of the U.S. in a recent treaty with Mexico and Canada.

Verdict: False

The declaration that was signed was non-binding and does not address sovereignty. This claim has been widely debunked.

Fact Check:

The leaders of the U.S., Canada and Mexico met in Mexico in early January, where they discussed various subjects such as migration from Latin American nations, crime and others, according to The New York Times. Biden stated the three countries were “true partners” following the summit, the outlet reported.

The Facebook video claims that Biden signed away the sovereignty of the U.S. The person in the video claims, “While no one was paying attention, Joe Biden signed away our sovereignty as a nation.”

There is no evidence that Biden signed any sovereignty away or that the U.S. ceased to be a nation. If Biden had done so, media outlets would have covered it, yet none have. The White House’s fact-sheet makes no mention of the end of the U.S. as a sovereign nation. The actual declaration of North America also does not mention any loss of sovereignty.

“North America shares a unique history and culture that emphasizes innovation, equitable development, and mutually beneficial trade to create inclusive economic opportunities for the benefit of our people,” reads part of the declaration. “We are not just neighbors and partners. Our people share bonds of family and friendship and value – above all else – freedom, justice, human rights, equality, and democracy. This is the North American DNA.”

The document discusses subjects such as climate change, diversity and migration, but does not mention the sovereignty or the abolishment of such in any section.

The Declaration of North America is not a legally binding document, as well. All treaties must be ratified by two-thirds of the U.S. Senate, according to the Constitution. (RELATED: Did The UK Ban The COVID-19 Vaccine Due To Health Concerns?)

Multiple experts told media outlets that the claim was false. Walter Olson, a senior fellow at the libertarian think tank Cato Institute, told The Associated Press that the “announcement is basically happy talk about cooperation between the three governments and creates no new legal obligations.”

“The video is ridiculous. The declaration has no legal status whatsoever. It’s a restatement of ‘commitments’ by the three nations to pursue a variety of goals,” Mark Tushnet, a professor emeritus at Harvard Law School, told PolitiFact.

Misinformation regarding the Biden administration’s policy has circulated online regularly. Check Your Fact recently debunked a claim suggesting the Biden administration was seeking to ban the sale of gas stoves.