The Canadian Jewish Congress renewed today its complaint to the Canadian government over the admission to Canada of Bishop Valerian Trifa who was a member of the fascist Iron Guard in wartime Rumania. The complaint was made by Alan Rose, CJC executive vice-president, in a letter to Bud Cullen, the Minister of Manpower and Immigration.
Rose noted in his letter that proceedings have been started against Trifa, who lives in Grass Lake, Mich., by the U.S. Justice Department for cancellation of Trifa’s citizenship on charges he lied about his membership in the Iron Guard when he applied for U.S. citizenship after World War II. Rose declared that the Canadian Jewish community was “dismayed” that Trifa was permitted to enter Canada and that “Canadians of all faiths” would find Trifa’s presence in Canada “utterly repugnant.”
The letter also pointed out that “some survivors of the massacres perpetrated by the Iron Guard and relatives of those who were murdered are presently living in Canada.” Trifa entered Canada about two months ago, spurring rumors he planned to settle there. He spoke at a Montreal rally recently but his exact whereabouts now in Canada are not known.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
