Trump Muslim Ban Latest: Can Canadian Immigrants Enter US After President's Order?

Permanent Canadian residents who immigrated from but have dual citizenship in one of the seven countries listed on U.S. President Donald Trump’s travel ban were reportedly exempt from the far-reaching executive order, Metro News Canada reported Sunday.

Initially, Canadians who immigrated from any of the seven countries – Libya, Iran, Iraq, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen - named by Trump were confused about the ban or worried it would apply to them. However, they were reassured by Canadian Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen’s announcement Sunday and that of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

White House officials had “given assurances” that those with permanent Canadian resident cards and a passport from one of the seven banned countries would still be allowed to cross over to the U.S., Hussen told reporters.

Furthermore, Trudeau tweeted Saturday that top Canadian officials had been in touch with the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Transportation to find “clarity” on the order. Trudeau also said he instructed Canadian National Security Adviser Daniel Jean to do the same with his U.S. counterpart Michael Flynn.

The 90-day ban, signed by Trump Friday, led to widespread worry in both Canada and the U.S., where large protests broke out at some of the biggest airports in each country. Immigrants from the countries on the banned list who were already flying to the U.S. were detained by Homeland Security and eventually fully released Monday morning, ABC7 reported.

Trump called the order a way to deter terrorists from entering the U.S. However, reports indicated the measure has also become a way for jihadists to prove to would-be recruits and other Muslims that the U.S. is at war with Islam, The Washington Post reported Sunday.

Social media accounts in favor of the Islamic State terror group and other pro-jihadists flooded their followers with messages about Trump and his ban. One post read: “[Islamic State leader Abu Bakr] al-Baghdadi has the right to come out and inform Trump that banning Muslims from entering America is a ‘blessed ban.’”