U.S. and Canada Collaborate to Bring Back Citizens from Syria

In a significant development, six Canadian children have been successfully repatriated from Syria, as confirmed by Global Affairs Canada. The operation, which also involved the U.S., saw the return of 11 American citizens, along with Dutch and Finnish nationals. The focus now shifts to ensuring the children’s privacy and providing them with the necessary support for their resettlement in Canada.

Global Affairs Canada reiterated its commitment to working with various stakeholders,

According to Canadian lawyer Lawrence Greenspon, who has been involved in the process, the children have safely arrived in Montreal, where a family has been identified to care for them. However, the mother of these children, unable to pass a security screening assessment, has not been repatriated due to concerns over her adherence to extreme ideological beliefs, posing potential risks to public safety.

U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken emphasized the need for thoughtful and flexible repatriation efforts, particularly for the thousands of individuals, mostly children, still residing in displaced persons camps in Syria. Global Affairs Canada reiterated its commitment to working with various stakeholders, including provincial authorities and NGOs, to ensure the seamless integration and well-being of the repatriated children.

The successful repatriation underscores the collaborative efforts between Canada and its allies, with the United States playing a pivotal role in facilitating the return of Canadian nationals from Syria.