biden Administration The government is considering welcoming some Palestinians to the US as refugees as they seek to flee war-torn Gaza amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas in the Middle East.
According to CBS News, internal federal government documents show that senior officials from several federal US agencies have in recent weeks discussed details of possible options for accepting Palestinians from Gaza whose immediate family members are US citizens. or are permanent US residents.
The documents show that one proposal involves using the US refugee admissions program to bring in Palestinians with US connections who have fled Gaza and crossed into neighboring Egypt.
According to the documents, US officials have also considered welcoming additional Palestinians from Gaza and processing them as refugees if they have American relatives. The proposal would depend on coordination with Egypt, which has so far been reluctant to welcome large numbers of people from Gaza.
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US President Joe Biden on March 31, 2022. (Reuters/Kevin Lamarck/file photo)
Gazans who pass a series of eligibility, medical and security checks will be eligible to move to the US with refugee status, which includes resettlement benefits such as permanent residence, housing assistance, and a path to US citizenship.
The number of people eligible is expected to be relatively small, but the proposed plans could provide a lifeline to some Palestinians trying to escape the Israel-Hamas war.
As estimated by the health ministry of the Hamas-run government, it is much higher. 34,000 More than 77,000 people were killed, 77,000 more were injured and hundreds of thousands of civilians were displaced in Gaza.
Hamas terrorists launched sudden attack on israel On October 7, more than 1,200 people were killed, prompting a military response by the Israeli army. Hamas also abducted more than 200 people, many of whom are still in captivity.
A White House spokesperson told Fox News Digital, “Since the beginning of the conflict, the United States has helped more than 1,800 American citizens and their families leave Gaza, many of whom have come to the United States. ” “At President Biden’s direction, we have also helped, and will continue to help, some particularly vulnerable individuals, such as children with serious health problems and those undergoing cancer treatment, out of harm’s way And receive care at hospitals nearby the area.”
Smoke rises during an Israeli attack around Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City on March 28, 2024, amid ongoing clashes between Israel and Hamas. (AFP via Getty Images)
The spokesperson added, “The United States remains the largest contributor of humanitarian assistance to Gaza to address the critical situation, and we are working hard to get urgently needed assistance to as many people as possible.” “We have also been clear and consistent: The United States unequivocally rejects any action by the forcible transfer of Palestinians from Gaza or the West Bank or the redrawing of Gaza’s borders. The best way forward is to achieve a permanent ceasefire. “Through a hostage agreement that will stabilize the situation and pave the way for a two-state solution.”
The proposals also come after President Biden issued a memorandum in February on suspending enforced departures for some Palestinians who were already in the US.
The plan to bring some Palestinians to the US as refugees would represent a change in long-standing US government policy and practice, as the US refugee program has not resettled large numbers of Palestinians since its beginning in 1980 Is.
Over the past decade, the US has resettled more than 400,000 refugees fleeing violence and war Worldwide, but there were less than 600 Palestinians. In fiscal year 2023, the U.S. accepted 56 Palestinian refugees, out of more than 60,000 resettled during that 12-month period, according to State Department data.
To qualify to enter the US as refugees, applicants must prove that they are fleeing persecution based on certain factors such as nationality, religion or political views.
Smoke is seen rising after Israeli forces carried out an airstrike on the Al Mughraqa area of the Gaza Strip on April 14, 2024. (Photo by Ashraf Amra/Anadolu via Getty Images)
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The administration’s plan to welcome Palestinian refugees, even in small numbers, could draw criticism from Republican lawmakers who want to make the illegal immigration crisis at the US-Mexico border a central issue ahead of the November elections.
Shortly after the Hamas attack against Israel on October 7, top Republicans said the US should not welcome Palestinian refugees, claiming they are anti-Semitic and a potential national security risk.
The Biden administration has dramatically increased refugee resettlement in recent years. Authorities aim to accept 125,000 refugees in fiscal year 2024, which ends at the end of September.
Refugee resettlement was cut to record lows during the Trump administration.
