Ottawa is denying concerns raised by a group of U.S. senators regarding Gaza refugees entering the United States through the Canadian border.
A number of Republican senators penned a letter to U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas expressing worries about the security of the U.S.-Canada border.
The senators expressed concerns in the letter about the documentation provided to the refugees, including a temporary resident visa (TRV) and refugee travel documents, permitting them to travel outside of Canada.
“The Refugee Travel Document serves as a valid form of identification recognized in 146 countries for paperwork completion and visa applications. For instance, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) acknowledges the Refugee Travel Document as a valid travel document instead of a passport,” they wrote.
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“It would be irresponsible for the U.S. not to take necessary precautions when foreign individuals attempt to enter the country.”
The senators revealed that the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Field Operations has encountered 233 suspected terrorists at the Canada-U.S. border this year, a figure higher than previous years.
A spokesperson from Immigration Minister Marc Miller’s office refuted the senators’ claims about the refugee travel documentation.
“It is completely untrue to suggest that these special measures provide applicants with a Refugee Travel Document to replace their original passport from their home country,” the spokesperson stated in an email to The Epoch Times. “Canada only issues Refugee Travel Documents to individuals determined to be legitimate refugees through a separate evaluation process.”
The spokesperson clarified that successful applicants receive a TRV or a temporary resident permit, valid solely for travel to Canada, not the U.S., according to the spokesperson.
Since October 8, 2023, a total of 609 TRVs were approved for Palestinians outside of Gaza, as per the minister’s office. Additionally, the government’s special measures have approved 434 Gazans to enter Canada. These individuals independently left Gaza and had ongoing TRV applications, according to the minister’s office. Once they submitted biometrics, their applications were finalized, permitting their entry into Canada.
“To date, 189 individuals have arrived in Canada under the temporary special measures public policy,” the spokesperson added.
“Let’s be clear: the safety of Canadians is of utmost importance. All applicants seeking entry to Canada must meet eligibility and admissibility criteria. IRCC carefully screens all applications from around the world to ensure the security and safety of Canadians.”
According to the immigration ministry email, travelers posing a potential risk undergo screening by immigration officials, along with members of the Canada Border Services Agency, the RCMP, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, and U.S. authorities.
Please rewrite the following sentence:
Original: “The cat chased the mouse around the house.”
Rewritten: “Around the house, the mouse was chased by the cat.”
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