The University of New Brunswick is preparing for the possibility of a new United States travel ban by declaring that it will treat applicants from affected countries as 鈥渞efugees.鈥�
means that students from affected nations will have their applications expedited, their application fees waived and guaranteed spaces in residences. They will also get special assistance transferring credits from institutions in the United States.
At least several other Canadian universities have already said they would waive applications fees for students from countries hit by the ban, including the , , the , the and in B.C.
The Jan. 27 executive order by U.S. President Donald Trump barred individuals from seven predominantly Muslim countries -- Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen -- from entering the United States for 90 days. Trump argues that the ban reduces the threat of Islamic terrorism.
The order was quashed by a federal court last month but the Trump administration has indicated it will as early as next week.
International students at UNB praised their school鈥檚 decision. 鈥淚 think they are lucky to be accepted at UNB and I鈥檓 sure UNB will be a better place for them,鈥� said Raghad Agha, who is from Iraq.
Ishtar Al-Tahir, also from Iraq, agreed. 鈥淭he fact that you鈥檙e preventing people just because of where they lived, just because of maybe their religion, it鈥檚 not right,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he fact that UNB is opening their arms and welcoming any students that may be affected by this,鈥� she added, 鈥渋s amazing.鈥�
With a report from CTV Atlantic鈥檚 Laura Brown
