Healing, not hating, refugees in Canada
Re A PR move by Trump, June 21
U.S. President Donald Trump’s national child abuse of refugee infants and kids has put the United States, both the nation and its soul, on trial, and with that the country’s right to be described as a modern, enlightened democracy.
More importantly, Trump has put the entire world on trial. What are the rest of us prepared to do about this grotesque, ghastly, vile and overtly evil unfolding humanitarian failure?
Canada is showing that there is a better, more noble way.
As Donald Trump mutilates his country’s southern border, as he rips children from their parents’ arms then politically weaponizes these children to gain support for a wall, the northern border with Canada presents a stark, welcome contrast.
As some refugees seek sanctuary in the United States, others desperately flee this so-called “safe third country” to Canada. As one border hates, another heals.
As Trump sends ICE agents to maternity centres looking for asylum-seeking women from Africa, Syria and Asia to deport, the women pick up, pack up and head north via a modern-day underground railroad. They leave for sanctuary in Canada.
Being deported from the United States means their children may suffer their mother’s fate — female child genital mutilation and cutting, or perhaps being kidnapped by terrorist groups for ransom for weapons.
Are these women “illegal immigrants?” Many have resided in the United States for years. Or are they heroes for doing what any other mother on earth would do if in their position?
After crossing into Canada, refugee families are united, not separated. In our clinics, refugee children cling to parents after being separated from their home, family members, culture, country and everything but their mothers. They cling together, then play together — because Canada says they can. They receive support to start over.
At our refugee health centre, we agree with the sentiments universally and openly expressed by the asylum seekers crossing from the United States whom we treat.