It is quite unfortunate that Canada is geographically connected to the U.S. in which the current political actions of the president had cast uncertainty on the security and well being of Canadian immigrants.
As the turn of events have it, U.S. president Donald Trump had taken retaliatory action against Iran without consulting the leaders of allied countries like Canada. Such action manifested Trump’s total disregard for diplomacy especially in coordinating political decisions that can have a global impact.
Trump’s aggressive actions affected many of Canada’s immigrants particularly those of Iranian descent. As aftermath of Trump’s order to launch a retaliatory drone strike that killed top Iranian official, Maj.-Gen. Qassem Soleimani, the U.S. Department of Homeland Defense issued an order to hold for questioning, all Iranian-American and Iranian-Canadian citizens passing through the Peace Arch border connecting British of Columbia to Washington. D.C.
U.S.-Iran Conflict Caused Chaos at the B.C.-Washington Border
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) reported that over 60 American citizens and Iranian nationals who attended an Iranian pop concert in Vancouver, were held for questioning at the B.C.-Washington Border. According to CAIR, those who were detained were questioned about their allegiance and political views, whilst had their passports confiscated.
Sam Sadr, an Iranian-Canadian who had ventured to travel to the U.S. for the first time found the experience shocking and unnerving. Despite presentation of his Canadian passport, he was grilled at the border for eight hours. Sadr told CTV News said he saw dozens of Iranian-Canadians including their children, going through the same harrowing experience at the border.
Len Saunders, an immigration lawyer based in Blaine, Washington said the scene at the BC-Washington border during the weekend can be likened to a
a dragnet directed at anyone born in Iran”
Sauders was there because two of his clients were among those held by border agents. He said the questions were mostly about his clients’ family ties in Iran; such as information about their parents and siblings; what his clients do for a living and every when they travel between B.C. and Washington.
What Saunders deemed as troubling was that when his client offered to voluntarily withdraw her application to enter, border authorities told her that even so, she was not allowed to leave either.
In not consulting with Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau, Trump prevented the government of Canada from giving the country’s immigrant citizens proper travel advisory and the potential courses of actions for them to take.
Canada’s Door Remains Open to Immigrants
Canada continues to welcome immigrants from any country, race, culture or religion, as long as they are capable of contributing to the growth of Canada’s labour force. As a matter of fact, the government of Canada had previously announced that in the next three years, more than a million will be accepted and allowed to settle in the country. In the year 2020 alone, immigrant admissions are expected to number by as many as 360,000, to meet the target number of 370,000 by the year 2021.
U.S. immigrants and expats contemplating on transferring to Canada can easily arrange for affordable transmoving services with EASY MOVING, a Toronto-based local and long distance moving company.