Former President Donald Trump has amplified a proposal aimed at creating expedited legal pathways into the United States for Jewish Canadians experiencing rising antisemitism.
The plan has garnered support from Christian lawmakers and religious leaders who are urging the Trump administration to act on what they describe as a "disproportionate" increase in antisemitic incidents in Canada.
Jason Rapert, founder and president of the National Association of Christian Lawmakers (NACL), stated that Trump should directly engage Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney regarding perceived obstacles to the swift recognition of the plight of Jewish Canadians who fear for their safety. "We will find out" if Canada is impeding the relocation of more than 2,000 Jewish Canadians who have expressed interest in moving to the U.S., Rapert said. "Trump should ask Carney right now," he added. "Canada should be embarrassed and ashamed of these perceived roadblocks. And we're trying to rally leaders to take a stand."
The NACL and its partners have requested that Trump direct the State Department and Department of Homeland Security to establish "lawful, secure, and appropriately expedited pathways" for Jewish Canadians and their families facing persecution or credible fears for their safety due to their faith.
"For generations, America has served as a refuge for people fleeing religious persecution," the NACL wrote in a letter to Trump. "We urge you to ensure that, consistent with federal law and the security interests of the United States, that door remains open to our Jewish brothers and sisters in Canada who need it today."
Rapert, along with former U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom Sam Brownback, signed the letter, which was also endorsed by over 50 state legislators, religious leaders, and civic figures. It was sent to Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and congressional leaders.
"Recent data demonstrate that Jewish Canadians are being targeted at a grossly disproportionate rate, while community-based reporting reflects thousands of antisemitic incidents across Canada," Rapert wrote. "These numbers represent more than statistics. They represent families who increasingly question whether they can safely send their children to Jewish schools, worship openly, display their faith publicly, or continue building their lives in communities where they no longer feel secure."
According to Rapert, Canada has reported nearly 7,000 antisemitic incidents among its population of approximately 41 million people. In comparison, the U.S., with a population exceeding 342 million, has reported fewer than 6,300 such incidents. Rapert described the situation in Canada as being "definitely a problem" on a greater scale.
The NACL was reportedly made aware of the concerns of Jewish Canadians unable to emigrate to the U.S. by Michael Sachs, a Jewish community leader and Senior Director of the Jewish Federation of Tulsa, Okla. Sachs indicated that Jewish Canadians have expressed interest in relocating due to safety concerns, harassment, vandalism, intimidation, threats, and violence targeting Jewish schools, synagogues, businesses, institutions, and families following the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has acknowledged a significant rise in antisemitism within Canada, stating that the country has failed to adequately protect its Jewish community. "Canada’s civic compact is failing Jewish Canadians," Carney said in June, characterizing the nation's antisemitism crisis as "specific, severe and demands a targeted response."
Carney noted that antisemitism in Canada had reached levels not seen since the period following World War II. He reported that more than two-thirds of religion-motivated hate crimes recorded in the previous year targeted Jewish Canadians, despite them comprising only about 1% of the country's population. Incidents he cited include bullets fired at Jewish schools, firebombings of synagogues, attacks on community centers and businesses, and the targeting of Jewish students on university campuses.
The NACL's letter urged the administration to collaborate with state and local governments, Jewish organizations, churches, nonprofits, and employers willing to assist families in establishing new lives in the United States. "Antisemitism is a moral evil, and Christians must be willing to stand with our Jewish friends when they face hatred and persecution," Rapert stated. "We are asking President Trump and his administration to consider what lawful steps America can take to help Jewish Canadian families who are genuinely concerned for their safety."
Oklahoma has emerged as a potential destination. Jewish and Christian leaders in Tulsa have offered support for receiving Canadian Jewish families, and Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt has informed Trump that his state would welcome Jewish families who legally enter the U.S., according to the letter.
"They bring talent, faith, family values, entrepreneurship, and a sincere desire to contribute to the Nation that offers them safety and religious liberty," the letter concluded.