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December 15th, 2018

NDP Statement on Donald Trump deporting Vietnamese immigrants

NDP Critic for Immigration, Jenny Kwan, NDP Critic for Foreign Affairs Hélène Laverdière and NDP MP from Salaberry—Suroît, Anne Minh-Thu Quach, made the following statement:

“Tens of thousands of Vietnamese fled the Vietnam War and, wishing to offer a better future to their families, they were fortunate enough to settle in Canada. At least as many of their compatriots have been welcomed to the United States over the years.
The Trump administration is now trying to send these refugees back to Vietnam. Last year, the Trump administration decided to reinterpret a 2008 agreement that protected all Vietnamese immigrants who arrived in the United States before July 1995, when the two countries restored diplomatic relations.
According to the Trump administration, immigrants convicted of crimes were now exempt from the agreement. At the time, despite American pressure, the Vietnamese government refused this decision. According to The Atlantic, the US government has recently resumed its attempts to expel refugees.
President Donald Trump's new policy revives tensions and fears within families that have lived in the United States for decades. Let us not be afraid to stand up to Trump and his administration. This is a racist policy and it does not take into account human rights and humanitarian law. Moreover, for these long time refugees, deportation to Vietnam presents an enormous risk: that of being arrested as soon as they get off the plane because of their political opinions.
This is not acceptable and the NDP condemns without hesitation the deportation policy put forward by President Trump and his administration.”