Canadian permanent residents exempt from Donald Trump’s travel ban
Canada’s top national security adviser says the federal government received no warning about U.S. President Donald Trump’s travel ban for citizens of predominantly Muslim nations, and had to read about the details in the news.
The revelation capped a weekend of chaos at airports, court challenges and large protests in defiance of Trump’s decision Friday to ban citizens from seven nations temporarily, and Syrian refugees indefinitely.
Despite the outcry at home and abroad, the U.S. administration showed no sign of backing down from the executive order. The Department of Homeland Security issued a statement Sunday morning suggesting the court orders issued late Saturday would not interfere with the ban.
Ottawa moved to clear up some of the confusion surrounding the ban by announcing that Canadian citizens and permanent residents with roots in those countries can still cross the border.
Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen said Sunday that the White House has given assurances that permanent residents of Canada can enter the U.S. provided they have a valid Canadian permanent resident card and a passport from one of the seven affected countries.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s national security adviser said the White House gave Ottawa no warning about the unprecedented move.“The executive order came in, but it didn’t come on the official site until late (Saturday). The first copies actually came through the media,” Daniel Jean said at a press conference in Ottawa.
-Toronto Star