On Friday, President Trump signed a sweeping executive order barring refugees and people from seven predominately Muslim countries from entering the United States. The order prohibits Syrian refugees from entering the U.S. indefinitely and refugees from other countries for a period of 120 days. The order also bans travellers from seven Middle East countries: Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Somalia, Sudan, Libya and Iran for a period of 90 days.
The order went into effect immediately and even applied to those who had proper visas and were aboard U.S. bound aircraft when the order was signed. Yesterday, a federal judge issued an order prohibiting the government from deporting those who were detained at American airports after the order was signed.
Yesterday, under the hashtag #WelcomeToCanada, Trudeau tweeted those fleeing persecution, war and terror will be welcomed to Canada regardless of their faith. He ended the tweet by saying “Diversity is our strength.”
To those fleeing persecution, terror & war, Canadians will welcome you, regardless of your faith. Diversity is our strength WelcomeToCanada
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) January 28, 2017
Trudeau sent out another tweet of a picture of the prime minister welcoming Syrian refugees to Canada in 2015. So far, Canada has taken in 39,000 refugees from Syria.
WelcomeToCanada 47edRsHLJ5
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) January 28, 2017
The prime minister’s office also clarified the confusion over dual citizens; those people who are Canadian citizens and hold citizenship in one of the seven countries subject to the executive order. Initially it was said these people would be banned from entering the United States even if they travelled on their Canadian passport. This was later changed.
Late yesterday, Kate Purchase, the prime minister’s director of communications sent an email stating dual citizens travelling to the United States on a Canadian passport will not be turned away at the border and will be processed as they had always been. Trudeau’s national security adviser, Daniel Jean, had been in contact with his American counterpart, Michael Flynn, who told him dual citizens will not be affected by the executive order. This contradicted a previous statement issued by the U.S. State Department that said citizens of Canada and one of the seven countries were subject to Friday’s executive order and banned from entry.
Trudeau and Trump are expected to meet in Washington in the near future and the subject of immigration will be discussed between the two leaders.
