In contrast to U.S., Canada opens arms to resettle thousands of refugees

As a U.S. backlash against letting Muslim refugees into the country is festering, its northern neighbor is welcoming tens of thousands of Syrian refugees within the next couple months.

Newly elected Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will allow 25,000 refugees to resettle in the nation by February, with up to another 25,000 by the end of 2016. The plan gives priority to women, children, families and persecuted groups such as lesbians and gays.

Canada's policy comes in sharp contrast to the United States, where Republican frontrunner Donald Trump called for a ban on letting Muslims into the country and 30 governors have vowed to bar Syrian refugees from resettling in their states over fears that Islamic extremists may be hiding among them. Millions of Syrians have fled their country's nearly 5-year-old civil war that helped spawn the Islamic State, also known ISIL or ISIS.

"The U.S. is concerned about extremists ... Therefore (it) processes in a much more careful manner," said Kyle Matthews, a fellow with the Canadian Global Affairs Institute who has worked with the United Nation's High Commissioner for Refugees. "In Canada's case, this is a political promise in an election.".......................

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