Refugees in the US are now fleeing to Canada, because of Donald Trump

Analytics 12:13 14.02.2017
After escaping from their home countries, refugees in the United States are now fleeing to Canada to get away from President Donald Trump, and the country's xenophobia, Al Jazeera reports.
 
Farhan Ahmed, 36, and Mohamed Mualim, 28, are both Somali refugees. On Feb. 3, after trekking through knee-deep snow fields of North Dakota for five hours to cross the Canadian border, the duo arrived in Canada and subsequently filed for asylum. Ahmed told Al Jazeera the impetus for flocking to Canada was mainly due to Trump and his executive order banning all refugees for 120 days and visa holders from seven majority-Muslim countries, including Somalia.
 
"Why I have to flee, is because of Donald Trump," Ahmed told Al Jazeera. "It's not safe, so I run. When [the] new president came in, everything changed. The hate speech. The people who have the documents, the status, and everything, they cannot come in."
 
The order, signed on Jan. 27, was temporarily halted by a federal judge on Feb. 3. Six days later, the 9th Circuit Court upheld the stay on the order. The Trump administration has announced it's considering an appeal of the ruling to the Supreme Court.
 
 
Ahmed and Mualim are just two people out of dozens the Manitoba Interfaith Immigration Council have helped with resettling into Canada. MIIC, a nonprofit organization in Winnipeg, Manitoba, helps refugees with the asylum seeker petition process, provides legal services, shelter, food and other resources. On a normal year, only about 40 to 60 refugees cross into Canada from the U.S. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who has pledged to take in refugees, will be meeting with Trump on Monday.
 
"There were 21 people who crossed the border since [last] weekend," Rita Chahal, the executive director of MIIC, told Al Jazeera. "In January alone, we had 40 [refugees] and since October to [the] end of January, we had 118 [refugees]. Those are huge numbers because in an average year we would normally see generally between 50 and 60."
 
Chahal then said many refugees have said their main reason for filing for asylum in Canada is Trump.
 
"There are human lives that are at stake," Chanal said. "The people who are crossing and making these very horrendous journeys and taking risks, they're not thrill-seekers. They're people who are running for their lives for different reasons."
In 2015, according to the Canadian Border Services Agency, about 4,316 people filed refugee claims in the country, Al Jazeera reported. In 2016, one year later, the number increased to 7,022 claims — mainly refugees fleeing from war-torn countries in the Middle East, East Africa and South Asia.
 
Ahmed and Mualim, however, face the likely chance of being detained and deported for crossing the border illegally. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police told Al Jazeera that 249 refugees from the U.S. were arrested for illegal crossing into Canada in 2015. In 2016, the number nearly doubled with 444. One month into the new year, the number of refugees who have crossed into Canada illegally is already at 41.
Both Ahmed and Mualim, who work as truck drivers, had their asylum seeker petitions in the U.S. denied. Now, if the RMCP detains them and subjects them to deportation proceedings, it could become a death sentence.
 
"If I go back to Somalia, I will be killed — 100% sure," Ahmed, whose father was murdered by gunmen in his home country, told Al Jazeera.
 
Al-Shabaab, a militant Salafist group with ties to al-Qaeda, accused Mualim's brother of being a spy and murdered him. 
 
"It was very hard but we didn't have a choice," Mualim said of leaving the country. "I couldn't stay and feel safe any more in the U.S. You have no choice or they will deport you back. You have only one choice: to cross the border."
 
 
 

 

Azerbaijan takes measures to turn Khankandi into safe city - VİDEO

News line

Crocus City Hall terrorists took drugs before attack - law enforcement agencies
Crocus City Hall terrorists took drugs before attack - law enforcement agencies
18:33 28.03.2024
Azerbaijan, UN Development Program mull future co-op
18:00 28.03.2024
An Independent Trade Union Established within International Eurasia Press Fund - First in NGO sector - PHOTOS
17:39 28.03.2024
Italian PM condemns Macron for idea of sending troops to Ukraine
Italian PM condemns Macron for idea of sending troops to Ukraine
17:23 28.03.2024
Azerbaijan lends clarity to color requirement for taxis
17:02 28.03.2024
Isaac Herzog: Israel has no greater friend than US, and US has no greater friend than Israel
Isaac Herzog: Israel has no greater friend than US, and US has no greater friend than Israel
16:45 28.03.2024
Nigerian army eliminates over 200 militants in 2 weeks
16:30 28.03.2024
Armored Vehicle Coalition for Ukraine launched in Poland
Armored Vehicle Coalition for Ukraine launched in Poland
16:15 28.03.2024
Russia strengthens transport security measures after terror attack at Crocus City Hall
Russia strengthens transport security measures after terror attack at Crocus City Hall
15:55 28.03.2024
Türkiye plays an important role between Russia and Ukraine - says political scientist Ismail Cingoz
15:45 28.03.2024
2 schoolchildren detained in France on suspicion of sending bomb threats
15:35 28.03.2024
Ski resort in Georgia hit by avalanche
Ski resort in Georgia hit by avalanche
15:26 28.03.2024
Another protest against French colonialism held in New Caledonia, Azerbaijani flag raised
Another protest against French colonialism held in New Caledonia, Azerbaijani flag raised
15:15 28.03.2024
Media: US did not transfer all information about terrorist attack in Crocus City Hall to Russia
15:00 28.03.2024
Movement ‘Together’ calls on Armenia’s parliamentary forces to express vote of no confidence in Pashinyan
14:41 28.03.2024
Azerbaijan to participate in international trade fair in Istanbul
Azerbaijan to participate in international trade fair in Istanbul
14:32 28.03.2024
Le Pen accuses French government of fraud
14:22 28.03.2024
Armenian Government Grapples with Internal Division on Village Return Issue - Ishkhan Verdiyan talks on Ednews
14:12 28.03.2024
Ammunition found along route of Crocus City Hall terrorists
Ammunition found along route of Crocus City Hall terrorists
13:41 28.03.2024
Expert Ilyas Huseynov Predicts Peaceful Return of these territories to Azerbaijan
13:20 28.03.2024
Azerbaijan weather forecast for March 29
Azerbaijan weather forecast for March 29
12:55 28.03.2024
Russian MFA concerned about upcoming Armenia-US-EU meeting
12:23 28.03.2024
Secret Points of Pashinyan's Meeting with French Representative: Is Peace Agreement Signing Imminent?
12:00 28.03.2024
Armenia announces recruitment of border guards to work at Zvartnots
Armenia announces recruitment of border guards to work at Zvartnots
11:47 28.03.2024
The US-Armenia-EU Joint Conference is a part of the pressure plan on Azerbaijan - MP Konul Nurullayeva
11:30 28.03.2024
Azerbaijan’s central bank reduces discount rate
Azerbaijan’s central bank reduces discount rate
11:23 28.03.2024
CSTO chief: ‘Yerevan doesn’t participate in our work, but there are no statements about suspension’
11:13 28.03.2024
Ammunition found in Khankandi
Ammunition found in Khankandi
11:00 28.03.2024
Russia had been aware of preparation for terrorist attack at Crocus - says intelligience chief
10:46 28.03.2024
Scholtz reveals date of his last telephone conversation with Putin
Scholtz reveals date of his last telephone conversation with Putin
10:33 28.03.2024
Head of the SSS: France is inciting Armenia to a new war
10:21 28.03.2024
Are we in the brink of World War III? - Pundit talks on Ednews
10:10 28.03.2024
Azerbaijan's National Security: Reflecting on 105 Years of Defending Sovereignty
09:55 28.03.2024
Hikmat Hajiyev: Rasmussen fell in forgetfulness to attach payment to his report
09:35 28.03.2024
Hand grenades found in Kalbajar
09:25 28.03.2024
Titanic 'door' prop that kept Rose alive sells for $718,750
Titanic 'door' prop that kept Rose alive sells for $718,750
08:50 28.03.2024
Twitch's biggest streamer diagnosed with cancer diagnosis at 32
23:55 27.03.2024
Azerbaijan's former Minister of National Security passes away
22:41 27.03.2024
Russia has no unfriendly states, only unfriendly elites — Putin
22:25 27.03.2024
Erdogan vows to make efforts for implementation of UN resolution regarding Gaza
Erdogan vows to make efforts for implementation of UN resolution regarding Gaza
21:44 27.03.2024
Hamısı