Cross Country Checkup

What's your reaction to the new US travel ban on passport holders from seven Muslim countries?

Many thousands of Canadian residents fear they're now barred from the US because they hold passports from one of seven Muslim-majority countries banned by US President Trump. US residents could be stranded here for the same reason. What's your reaction?
Protesters assemble at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, Saturday, Jan. 28, 2017 after two Iraqi refugees were detained while trying to enter the country. On Friday, Jan. 27, President Donald Trump signed an executive order suspending all immigration from countries with terrorism concerns for 90 days. Countries included in the ban are Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen, which are all Muslim-majority nations. (Craig Ruttle/Associated Press)

Sunday on Cross Country Checkup: travel bans.

It wasn't the "total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the U.S." he called for on the campaign trail.

But Friday's move by President Donald Trump to prevent domestic terror attacks by banning tens of millions people from the United States and denying entry to all refugees, is now reverberating around the world.

Host of Cross Country Checkup, Duncan McCue.

Trump's executive order bars citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the U.S. for the next 90 days. Those countries are Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Iran, Somalia, Libya, and Yemen. Trump also suspended the admission of all refugees for 120 days, and the Syrian refugee program indefinitely.

The result was chaos and confusion, as U.S. law enforcement agencies, airports, airlines and foreign countries try to grasp what the new U.S. immigration policy means, how to implement it, and whether its even legal.

In Canada, the Prime Minister tweeted this yesterday: "To those fleeing persecution, terror & war, Canadians will welcome you, regardless of your faith." Instantly... #WelcomeToCanada was trending world-wide, and officials were affirming Canada's commitment to diversity. What do you think of the Canadian government's response?

Our question today: What's your reaction to new U.S. travel ban on passport holders from seven Muslim countries?

Guests

Mahmoud Allouch, works at ACCES Employment.  He used to work as the Syria project manager for the Arab Community Centre. He is Syrian national and has family in the US. 

Bahador Zabihiyan, Radio-Canada reporter who is personally affected by the travel ban.

Mario Calla, Executive Director, COSTI Immigrant Services. Twitter: @MarioCalla, @costi_org 

Bessma Momani, Professor of Political Science at the University of Waterloo and the Balsillie School of International Affairs in Canada. She is Senior Fellow at the Centre For International Governance and Innovation (CIGI), and Non-Resident Senior Fellow at the Brookings Doha Centre. Twitter: @b_momani

Wesley Wark, Professor at the University of Ottawa's Graduate School of Public and International Affairs 

Leslie Seidle, Research Director for IRPP's Diversity, Immigration and Integration program. He previously held senior positions in the Government of Canada, including director general of Strategic Policy and Research, Intergovernmental Affairs in the Privy Council Office (1996-2002). Twitter: @IRPP