The Muslim refugees rejected admission into the United States through the unprecedented actions of the Trump administration have a new beacon of hope: Canada.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Saturday welcomed the refugees barred entry into the U.S. to come to Canada instead. Trudeau’s message comes in response to the unfolding consequences of an executive order signed by President Donald Trump on Friday evening.
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
#WelcomeToCanada pic.twitter.com/47edRsHLJ5
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) January 28, 2017
Trump’s controversial executive order suspends the issuance of new visas for anyone from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen, for at least 90 days. It forbids the entry of refugees fleeing the deadly civil war in Syria indefinitely and suspends the U.S. refugee program for 120 days.
The travel ban has also prevented an estimated 500,000 legal permanent U.S. residents from returning to their homes in America.
Trump’s travel ban—referred to by critics as a “Muslim ban”—will prevent an estimated 134 million people from entering the U.S., according to CNN.
“I don’t want them here,” Trump said of Syrian refugees on Friday. “We will never forget the lessons of 9/11. Nor the heroes who lost their lives at the Pentagon. We will honor them not only with our words but with our actions, which is what we’re doing today.”
No individuals from the countries listed in Trump’s executive order were involved in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks nor any other fatal terrorist attack in the United States.
Canadian lawmaker Marc Garneau tweeted that the Canadian government is in contact with the U.S. State Department and Department of Transportation to discuss the specific consequences of Trump’s executive order, the text of which the White House has yet to publish as of Saturday evening.
1/1 We are in contact with U.S. DHS and U.S. DOT to get more clarity on the impacts of the restrictions on travels.
— Marc Garneau (@MarcGarneau) January 28, 2017
2/2. We will be providing further information to Canadians as it is available.
— Marc Garneau (@MarcGarneau) January 28, 2017
“The prime minister is looking forward to discussing the successes of Canada’s immigration and refugee policy with the president when they next speak,” said Trudeau spokeswoman Kate Purchase.
While the full consequences of Trump’s actions come into focus, outraged Americans have flooded to airports around the U.S., including in Trump’s hometown of New York City, to protest the detention of Green Card holders and refugees by U.S. immigration and customs authorities.
Several travelers detained by immigration authorities have been release; however, unnumbered others remain trapped at U.S. airports.
Every floor is full at JFK #MuslimBan #JFKTerminal4 pic.twitter.com/dT7UtQs6iK
— NYCLU (@NYCLU) January 28, 2017
Crowd from above #NoBanNoWall #JFKTerminal4 #MuslimBan pic.twitter.com/MSztqhNgj9
— Jonathan Tasini (PDX City Council District 2) (@jonathantasini) January 28, 2017
https://twitter.com/selenalarson/status/825487829178347521
https://twitter.com/JackSmithIV/status/825454209327824896
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and other legal groups on Saturday sued the Trump administration on behalf of those detained by a policy that has rocked the core of American principles in less than 24 hours.
“President Trump’s war on equality is already taking a terrible human toll,” Omar Jadwat, director of the ACLU’s Immigrants’ Rights Project, said. “This ban cannot be allowed to continue.”