Dual citizens with Canadian passports not affected by Trump’s ban: minister

OTTAWA— Canada’s Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen said Canadian permanent residents from seven countries targeted by a U.S. President Donald trump’s executive order can still enter the United States.

Trump Friday signed the executive order which prohibits citizens of Iran, Iraq, Sudan, Somalia, Syria, Yemen and Libya from entering the U.S. in the coming three months, and also bans refugees from Syria indefinitely. Trump said the order would help protect Americans from terrorist attacks.

Canada was caught up in the executive order because of some Canadian dual citizens.

Hussen told a press conference in Ottawa Sunday that Canada has been assured by the White House that they can enter the U.S. if they have a valid Canadian permanent resident card and a passport from one of the seven countries affected. Dual citizens with a Canadian passport are also allowed into the U.S.

Saturday, the U.S. State Department said Canadians with dual citizenship from the seven countries will be denied entry for the next three months along with citizens from those countries.

Hussen says Canada will provide temporary shelter to any people stranded in the country because of the ban, but he noted that there are currently no people stuck in Canadian airports.

Hussen said his ministry has been in contact with American officials throughout the weekend.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Saturday expressed Canada’s welcome to refugees a day after Trump signed the executive order.

“To those fleeing persecution, terror & war, Canadians will welcome you, regardless of your faith. Diversity is our strength,” Trudeau tweeted Saturday. He followed it up by tweeting a photo of himself greeting a young Syrian refugee.