Calls for Jewish Canadians refugee status in the United States are gaining momentum. A former Ontario resident and a conservative American think tank now argue that Washington should offer an asylum pathway. Their push comes as rising antisemitism pushes Canadian Jewish families to consider leaving the country entirely.

Why Some Jewish Canadians Are Seeking US Refugee Status

Joe Roberts, executive director of Jewish Tulsa, says the situation has become urgent. His organization has helped welcome Jewish Canadians, including himself, to Oklahoma. According to Roberts, an asylum pathway “makes sense” given the current climate.

“With the urgency around the challenges and the inaction we see in Canada, an asylum pathway makes sense,” Roberts said. He believes thousands of Canadian Jews are living in constant fear. Consequently, many are actively seeking ways to escape.

Roberts pointed to firebombings targeting Jewish schools, temples, and businesses across Canada. In his words, “It’s a pan-Canadian problem.” Moreover, he added that “the discourse has changed fundamentally.”

Interestingly, Roberts himself moved to Canada in 2016. He relocated to Ontario with his Canadian wife for job opportunities, partly to escape what he feared was democratic backsliding under Donald Trump. The couple settled in Cobourg, an hour outside Toronto.

Things changed after the fall 2023 Hamas attack on Israel. That attack triggered Israeli military action in Gaza. Soon after, Roberts noticed antisemitic graffiti appearing in his local park, even though Cobourg was far removed from the larger protests happening in Toronto.

As a result, Roberts grew nervous about enrolling his child in kindergarten. He felt uneasy raising a family in a country where antisemitic incidents seemed increasingly common. Two years ago, his family relocated to Tulsa after being contacted by a group working to grow the city’s Jewish community.

Tulsa Tomorrow and the Numbers Behind the Movement

That group, Tulsa Tomorrow, offers guided visits and logistical support to Jewish families considering relocation. Notably, it runs a dedicated program specifically for Canadians. Through this initiative, families receive help navigating the move and settling into their new city.

According to Roberts, Tulsa Tomorrow has fielded inquiries from 800 to 900 Jewish Canadian families. That represents roughly 2,000 people weighing a departure from Canada. Many of these families are also eligible for financial assistance through Jewish Tulsa.

Fortunately, most Canadians in this position already qualify for legal pathways to the US. Some are eligible for a visa under the North American trade agreement CUSMA. Others qualify for American citizenship through family or marriage connections, according to Roberts.

However, antisemitism remains a significant problem within the United States as well. Even the Trump administration has openly acknowledged this reality. The American Jewish Committee’s 2025 report described the past year as “one of the most violent years against American Jews in recent history.” The same report noted that nearly half of Jews under 30 said they had been personally targeted.

Despite this, Roberts argues the US should still create an immigration pathway. He believes it should apply to Jews in Canada who face genuine risk and can show their government isn’t doing enough to protect them. Still, he emphasized that most people would prefer Canadian authorities simply do more to curb anti-Jewish hate.

The Political Debate Over Asylum and Immigration Policy

The Trump administration has generally tightened restrictions on asylum claims. Nevertheless, it made a notable and controversial exception. That exception involved creating a resettlement program for Afrikaner people from South Africa.

Roberts drew a direct comparison to that precedent. “When a country — whether it’s a foreign dictatorship or an ally — is unwilling to take care of the challenges of a minority group, it’s one of the promises of America to extend a hand and provide a pathway,” he said.

Similarly, the American Enterprise Institute made a comparable argument in a commentary published last month. The conservative think tank stated the administration “should offer asylum to Canadian Jews who, per U.S. law, have a credible fear of persecution on account of their faith or ethnicity.”

The commentary also referenced Montreal cardiac surgeon Emmanuel Moss. Moss decided to leave for Atlanta this fall. In June, he explained his decision by citing provincial underfunding of health care alongside an inadequate response to rising antisemitism.

Yet, not everyone in the Trump administration is on board. Rabbi Yehuda Kaploun, Trump’s special envoy for combating antisemitism, said Washington isn’t currently considering resettlement for Canadian Jews. He shared this during a visit to Ottawa on July 28.

“We weigh everything, but we would hope that the (Canadian) government would step in to make sure that their Canadian Jewish citizens feel safe in Canada,” Kaploun said. He continued, “I’m here to ask the Canadian government to do a better job to protect their Jewish citizens. I’m not wading into what we will do in the future.”

What This Means Going Forward

Despite his concerns about Trump’s broader governance, Roberts credits the administration for taking antisemitism seriously. He points to prosecutions of hate crimes and efforts holding universities accountable as evidence of real action.

“There’s been a serious effort by this government to address it, where I don’t think we’ve seen that kind of action from the federal government in Canada,” Roberts said.

For now, the debate over Jewish Canadians refugee status remains unresolved at the official policy level. However, grassroots efforts like Jewish Tulsa and Tulsa Tomorrow continue helping families relocate. As antisemitism concerns persist in Canada, this movement is likely to keep growing.