The establishment media has largely ignored Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announcing a crackdown on a surge of refugees illegally entering the country Sunday.
“Canada is an opening and welcoming society, but let me be clear. We are also a country of laws,” Trudeau said. “Entering Canada irregularly is not an advantage. There are rigorous immigration and customs rules that will be followed. Make no mistake.”
Those are strong words coming from Trudeau, who in response to President Donald Trump’s travel restrictions tweeted, “To those fleeing persecution, terror & war, Canadians will welcome you, regardless of your faith. Diversity is our strength #WelcomeToCanada.”
The American media has been kind to Trudeau, often referring to him as the “anti-Trump” for his more progressive rhetoric and policies. “Justin Trudeau: The North Star” read the cover of Rolling Stone Magazine in late July, posing the question in the subheading, “Is he the free world’s best hope?” Business Insider referred to him as a “Disney Prince,” and Buzzfeed published a hard-hitting reportage titled “Literally Just 27 Really Hot Photos Of Justin Trudeau.”
A Huffington Post article reported on Trudeau’s remarks under the headline “Justin Trudeau Says Racists Won’t Change Canada’s Openness To Immigrants.” Reuters, Fox News Insider and The National Review covered Trudeau’s comments in the American media. A cursory Google search turns up nothing from CNN, The Washington Post or The New York Times as of yet.
Trudeau has been very vocal in his criticisms of Trump’s border policies in the past for cracking down on refugees, while touting his own open-door policies and acceptance of 40,000 Syrian refugees into Canada.
The resulting fear of Trump’s election and his policies on illegal immigration, coupled with Trudeau’s welcoming message, has now shifted some of the refugee burden onto Canadians, as illegal entry by refugees in July has more than tripled from June’s 884 crossings. In the entire year of 2015, only 2,900 refugees crossed into Canada illegally. Since July 1 of this year, the number has skyrocketed to 6,800.
Now Trudeau is facing the practical and political consequences of his rhetoric that the subsequent surge of refugees poses. Canada’s legal immigration process is far more selective than in the U.S. and Europe, focusing more on what economic contributions potential immigrants have to offer. Ironically, the Canadian system incorporates much of the merit based system Trump proposed earlier this month: Prerequisites that require high levels of education, skilled labor, and points for proficiency in French and English.
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