In face of Donald Trump's Muslim ban, Canada's Trudeau welcomes refugees

Ottawa: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau welcomed those fleeing war and persecution on Saturday even as Canadian airlines said they would turn back US-bound passengers to comply with an immigration ban on people from seven Muslim-majority countries.

A day after US President Donald Trump put a four-month hold on allowing refugees into the United States and temporarily barred travellers from the seven countries, Mr Trudeau posted his retort.

A second pointed tweet, also timed to coincide with outrage over Mr Trump's immigration policy, included an archive photo of Mr Trudeau welcoming a Syrian refugee at a Canadian airport in 2015.

Confusion abounded at airports around the world on Saturday as immigration and customs officials struggled to interpret the new US rules.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, greets Georgina Zires, center, Madeleine Jamkossia and her family, refugees fleeing from Syria, as they arrive at Pearson International airport, in Toronto on December 11, 2015. Credit: AP

While Mr Trudeau was tweeting a welcome to refugees, others on the social media platform were questioning whether Canadian Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen - a Somali-Canadian refugee - would be able to travel to the United States under the new rules.

Mr Hussen's office did not respond to a request for comment.

In Canada, WestJet Airlines said it turned back a passenger bound for the United States on Saturday to comply with an executive order signed by Mr Trump on Friday. WestJet spokeswoman Lauren Stewart said the airline would give full refunds to anyone affected by the order. It did not say which country the passenger had come from.

The order would help protect Americans from terrorist attacks, the US president said.

US President Donald Trump after signing the first executive order banning refugees and people from some Muslim-majority countries.Credit: Bloomberg

MS Stewart said WestJet had been informed by US Customs and Border Patrol that the ban did not apply to dual citizens who had passports from countries other than those covered by the ban: Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.

"US CBP has confirmed it is the citizenship document they present to enter the country, not the country of where they were born," she wrote in an email.

Justin Trudeau, Canada's prime minister, has spoke out forcefully against the Muslim ban.Credit: Bloomberg/Cole Burston

In Vancouver, an employee at the American Airlines counter said one person travelling on an Iranian passport had been turned away on Saturday morning (Sunday AEDT).

Air Canada, the country's other major airline, said it was complying with the order but did not comment on whether it had yet denied travel to any passengers.

"We are required to ensure passengers have the required documents for entry into, or transit the countries they are travelling to," said spokeswoman Isabelle Arthur. "In the case of these nationalities, they are not permitted to enter the US"

A spokesman for Porter Airlines said the Toronto-based carrier will be restricting passengers from travelling to the United States from the listed countries until further notice. Porter will waive fees for changing destinations and offer refunds for cancelled trips related to the advisory.

Reuters