Trudeau vows to continue to welcome refugees

Canada's premier says he will continue pursuing policies of openness towards refugees without compromising security

WASHINGTON: Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau vowed during a visit to the White House Monday that his country would continue to welcome refugees, even as President Donald Trump defended his efforts to bar refugees from US soil as "common sense."

"Canada has always understood that keeping Canadians safe is one of the fundamental responsibilities of any government," Trudeau told a joint news conference with the US president.



"At the same time, we continue to pursue our policies of openness towards refugees without compromising security."

Trump meanwhile defended his controversial move to close US borders to refugees and citizens of seven mostly-Muslim nations, saying "we cannot let the wrong people in."



"It is a stance of common sense. And we are going to pursue it vigorously," Trump said.