EFN readers overwhelmingly support Canada helping refugees in wake of travel ban
- EFN Staff | February 06, 2017
Eagle Feather News' readers overwhelmingly support Canada taking more refugees in light of the recent travel ban implemented by President Donald Trump.
Last week, readers answered yes or no to the question Should Canada take more refugees now that the US has banned refugees from 7 countries in our web reader poll with 75% answering yes and a 25% no response.
Within a few days in office, the new administration of U.S. President Donald Trump introduced an immigration ban, which prohibits citizens from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen from entering into the United States for three months. A judge has since ordered the ban be lifted, but Trump says he is confident he will win the appeal.
This ban has affected thousands of U.S citizens who have passports from any of the seven countries. The 90-day Trump immigration ban has also instilled fear that many who still reside in the U.S. will be able to return if they leave.
However, Canada is looking at how they can accommodate sickly patients who are scheduled for surgeries in the states but cannot enter due to the ban.
According to the Toronto Star, the Ontario health government is looking how they can assist sickly children from the seven barred countries with hopes of providing care at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. Ontario’s Health Minister Eric Hoskins.
“Given that this is a critical time for these ill children, our ministry and Ontario’s specialized children’s hospitals, which provide best-in-the-world care feel the responsibility to act quickly,” said Hoskins in The Star’s story.
According to the Washington Post there are about 90,000 people who are affected by the new temporary ban.
“That’s how many people received either nonimmigrant or immigrant visas from the seven affected countries in fiscal year 2015. That’s the most recent data available, and different types of visas (such as student, business and tourism visas) are available for different lengths of time, but the figure serves as a usable proxy for the likely universe of people affected by Trump’s travel ban,” according the news source.
On January 28th Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau tweeted, “To those feeling persecution, terror & war, Canadians will welcome you, regardless of your faith. Diversity is our strength,” ending with a hashtag #WelcomeToCanada.