Close X
Wednesday, November 13, 2024
ADVT 
National

U.S. Government Makes It Official: Canadian Passport-Holders Excused From Ban

The Canadian Press, 31 Jan, 2017 11:15 AM
    WASHINGTON — The U.S. government has provided some clarity: Canadian passport-holders have the right to travel to the United States, despite days of confusing, contradictory messages about Donald Trump's travel restrictions.
     
    Four days after the order was announced, the American administration held its first detailed news conference Tuesday shedding light on who can still travel to the U.S. and who can't — at least not until the order is reviewed in a few months.
     
    The U.S. government confirmed publicly what it has privately told the Canadian government: that citizens of non-affected countries, including dual citizens, are exempt by the travel freeze on seven majority-Muslim countries.
     
    It was a relevant question for about 35,000 Canadians. That's how many have dual citizenship with the seven affected countries, and some of those Canadians may have jobs, families, and homes in the U.S.
     
    "Travellers will be assessed at our border based on the passport they present — not any dual national status. So if you're a citizen of the United Kingdom, you present your United Kingdom passport," said Kevin McAleenan, acting commissioner of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency.
     
    "The executive order does not apply to you."
     
    He made those remarks next to his boss, Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly. The newly named cabinet secretary said the order will be followed humanely.
     
    Early accounts were laden with confusion.
     
     
    The State Department stated that it applied to dual citizens. Some officials suggested it might also ban permanent U.S. residents. Those mixed messages sowed concern around the globe.
     
    Airports were hit with protests, as hundreds of travellers were detained. McAleenan said about 721 travellers were denied the right to board planes among the 500,000 non-Americans travelling to the U.S.
     
    The order still applies to temporary visitors with visas. Visa holders will be denied the right to board flights to the U.S., and sent to State Department representatives for additional instruction.
     
    The order could be temporary, and will be reviewed in several months.
     
     
    Kelly pushed back at reports that he and other officials were frozen out of the drafting of the order, and that the process was led by highly partisan staff around Trump without legal or national-security qualifications.
     
    Kelly said he saw two early drafts of the order. In recent days, he said, staffers kept him informed of changes.
     
    "I relied on people... to say, 'Okay, we've got it, boss... this looks good to us,' and we're off to the races," Kelly said.
     
    "I did not look at it from the perspective of... correcting the grammar or saying, you know, we need to change these words or do this thing. People that know the immigration process infinitely better than I do... were the ones that did the staff work."

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Police Identify Man Shot, Killed At Hotel In Vancouver's Downtown Eastside

    Police Identify Man Shot, Killed At Hotel In Vancouver's Downtown Eastside
    VANCOUVER — Police have identified a man who was killed following a shooting in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside.

    Police Identify Man Shot, Killed At Hotel In Vancouver's Downtown Eastside

    Vancouver Father-Son Duo Build 3D Printer To Send To The Moon

    Vancouver Father-Son Duo Build 3D Printer To Send To The Moon
    VANCOUVER — For Alex and Sergei Dobrianski, the building blocks of an upcoming revolution in the space industry are found in moon dust.

    Vancouver Father-Son Duo Build 3D Printer To Send To The Moon

    Don't Call Us Junkies Or Addicts: People Who Use Illicit Drugs Say Lingo Matters

     Calling someone a junkie was once the norm, but many people who use illicit drugs and those who treat them say the word addict is just as stigmatizing

    Don't Call Us Junkies Or Addicts: People Who Use Illicit Drugs Say Lingo Matters

    $250,000 Task Force Set Up By UBC To Fight Trump Travel Ban

    $250,000 Task Force Set Up By UBC To Fight Trump Travel Ban
    The University of British Columbia is setting up a task force in response to an American travel ban that prevents residents of seven countries from entering the United States for 90 days.

    $250,000 Task Force Set Up By UBC To Fight Trump Travel Ban

    B.C. Premier Expresses Sadness At Mosque Attack As Violation Of Sanctuary

    B.C. Premier Expresses Sadness At Mosque Attack As Violation Of Sanctuary
    B.C. Premier Christy Clark expressed her shock and sadness Monday after a terrorist attack at a mosque in Quebec City.

    B.C. Premier Expresses Sadness At Mosque Attack As Violation Of Sanctuary

    No Foreign Buyers Tax For People With Work Permit: B.C. Premier

    Christy Clark says the levy will be lifted for those who have a work permit and pay taxes in B.C., in order to encourage more people to come to the province.

    No Foreign Buyers Tax For People With Work Permit: B.C. Premier