US President Donald Trump's travel ban which targeted seven Muslim-majority countries has caused chaos and uncertainty. The ban orders citizens from Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia, Yemen and Iraq to not enter the United States. Dual nationals are included in the ban. It also suspends the US' refugee system for a period of 120 days. President Trump said that his "extreme vetting" system will be able to help "keep radical Islamic terrorists out of the US".
Global News reported that Canada will embrace immigrants and refugees in the face of U.S. travel restrictions. Foreign talents are more likely to seek Canadian jobs and this could likely result in good karma for Canadian business.
Jenny Kwan, NDP immigration critic, said that the ban promotes hate and intolerance and that it will have a disastrous effect for thousands of innocent travelers and refugees. Canada's decision to offer temporary residence was announced on Sunday by Ahmed Hussen, Canada's immigration minister, The Guardian reported. Hussen said that it is unclear how many people would be eligible, but he said that he will use his authority to provide those who are stranded with temporary residency if they need it.
Hussen also rejected calls to suspend the Safe Third Country Agreement - a pact which considers asylum-seekers safe in both Canada and the U.S. He said that all parameters of the agreement are in place, and there are no changes at this time.
The United Sates has now agreed to allow over 800 refugees who were already screened and in transit, but were previously denied entry. According to Hussen, this is a sign that the situation is evolving fast, but Canada will closely monitor any developments. "The responsible thing to do is to maintain contact, to continue to engage and make sure we monitor the situation closely to make sure we provide information to Canadians," he concluded.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
