Canada rejects U.S. security concerns over Syrian refugees
“Canada rejects U.S. security concerns over Syrian refugees,” AFP, January 28, 2016:
Canada rejected Wednesday U.S. security concerns over its fast-tracked resettlement of thousands of Syrian refugees, as the Senate in Washington prepares to hold a hearing on the repercussions for America.
“We have put in place layers of security activity to ensure that our refugee initiative with respect to Syria can be successful,” Canadian public safety minister Ralph Goodale told parliament.
“The program is working well and indeed it will resolve in something that Canadians can be very, very proud of,” he added in response to questions about why the Ottawa government declined an invitation to appear before the US Senate hearing.
The U.S. congressional panel is meeting next Wednesday to consider “Canada’s Fast-Track Refugee Plan: Unanswered Questions and Implications for U.S. National Security.”
It is scheduled to hear from a Toronto immigration lawyer who has criticized Canada’s Syrian refugee plan, calling it unrealistic, border officials and others.
Goodale said U.S. officials have been fully briefed on Canada’s refugee resettlement “and they understand exactly the layers of security screening that are in place,” including U.N. assessments of asylum seekers, collection of biometrics and checks against security databases.
A spokeswoman for Canada’s foreign affairs minister added, “We have emphasized and will continue to emphasize the integrity and robustness of our approach to the selection and screening of the Syrian refugees under consideration.”
Canada’s new Liberal government pledged to take in 25,000 Syrian refugees – more than double the U.S. intake – by the end of February….
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