President Donald Trump signaled support Sunday for a Christian-backed plan to create expedited legal pathways for Jewish Canadians fleeing rising antisemitism, as more than 2,000 families express interest in relocating.
President Donald Trump signaled support Sunday for a Christian-backed plan to create expedited legal pathways for Jewish Canadians fleeing rising antisemitism, amplifying the appeal to his millions of followers on Truth Social. The push, led by the National Association of Christian Lawmakers (NACL), comes as more than 2,000 Jewish Canadians have expressed interest in relocating to the United States. The effort would use existing refugee, humanitarian and visa authorities to bring families to safety while maintaining American security standards.
NACL founder and President Jason Rapert, speaking from Israel, said he wants Trump to press Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney directly over what he called roadblocks to recognizing the plight of Jewish Canadians fearing for their safety.
"We will find out if Canada is getting in the way," Rapert said. "Trump should ask Carney right now. Canada should be embarrassed and ashamed of these perceived roadblocks. And we're trying to rally leaders to take a stand."
The appeal follows a letter the NACL and its partners sent to Trump on Thursday asking him to direct the State Department and Department of Homeland Security to create "lawful, secure, and appropriately expedited pathways" for Jewish Canadians and their immediate family members who face persecution or can credibly demonstrate fears for their safety because they are Jewish.
"For generations, America has served as a refuge for people fleeing religious persecution," the group wrote. "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 and former U.S. ambassador-at-large for International Religious Freedom Sam Brownback signed the letter alongside more than 50 state legislators, religious leaders and other civic figures. It was sent to Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and congressional leaders.
Canada has reported nearly 7,000 antisemitic incidents in a country of roughly 41 million people. By comparison, the United States, with more than 342 million people, reported fewer than 6,300. Rapert called the disparity "eerie" and said the problem is worse in Canada by proportion.
"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 in the letter. "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."
Jewish Canadians have expressed interest in relocating because of safety concerns, harassment, vandalism, intimidation, threats and violence against Jewish schools, synagogues, businesses, institutions and families following the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas terror attacks on Israel.
Even Carney has acknowledged the scale of the problem. "Canada's civic compact is failing Jewish Canadians," he said at Toronto's Holy Blossom Temple in June, calling the country's antisemitism crisis "specific, severe and demands a targeted response." He said antisemitism in Canada had surged to levels not seen since the aftermath of World War II, noting that more than two-thirds of religion-motivated hate crimes targeted Jewish Canadians despite Jews making up only about 1 percent of the population. He pointed to bullets fired at Jewish schools, firebombings at synagogues and attacks on community centers and Jewish-owned businesses.
Oklahoma has emerged as one potential destination. Jewish and Christian leaders in Tulsa have offered to help receive Canadian Jewish families, and Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt has told Trump his state would welcome Jewish families who legally enter the United States, 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 said.
The proposal calls for coordinating with state and local governments, Jewish organizations, churches, nonprofits and employers willing to help families establish new lives in the United States. Rapert said Christians must stand with Jewish friends facing hatred and persecution.
"Antisemitism is a moral evil, and Christians must be willing to stand with our Jewish friends when they face hatred and persecution," he said. "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."
With Trump's public signal of support, the question now is how quickly the administration moves. The NACL wants Trump to raise the issue directly with Carney as tensions between the two countries continue to simmer.
Rapert said the group is working to rally leaders to take a stand, and the letter asks the administration to act consistent with federal law and the security interests of the United States. Any pathway would still require families to pass American security and admissibility requirements.
For the thousands of Jewish Canadians weighing whether to leave their homes, Trump's support could be the difference between waiting and leaving. The coming weeks will show whether the administration turns the signal into policy.
President Donald Trump signaled support Sunday for a Christian-backed plan to create expedited legal pathways for Jewish Canadians fleeing rising antisemitism, as more than 2,000 families express interest in relocating.
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