More than 100 Democratic lawmakers have written a letter to U.S. President Joe Biden, urging him to allow Palestinian tourists, students, and workers to remain in the United States in light of the conflict in the Gaza Strip and unrest in the West Bank. Led by Senator Dick Durbin, the lawmakers called on Biden to grant deportation relief and access to work permits to residents of Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories through U.S. programs designed for individuals from conflict-affected homelands.
The lawmakers emphasized that Palestinians already in the United States should not be forced to return to the Palestinian territories, aligning with President Biden’s commitment to protecting Palestinian civilians. However, it remains unclear how many Palestinians in the U.S. would be covered under these humanitarian protections, as they would only be available to those already present in the country, excluding individuals in the war zone or refugees in other nations.
The Democratic lawmakers proposed the use of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) or Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) programs to provide relief. Since taking office in 2021, President Biden has granted TPS to hundreds of thousands of individuals, including Venezuelans and Haitians. The White House has not yet responded to the request for comment regarding this specific issue.
This move by Democratic lawmakers comes in response to some Republican presidential candidates, including former President Donald Trump, who have supported immigration restrictions on individuals coming from Gaza. In fact, Republican Representative Ryan Zinke and 10 other Republicans recently introduced a bill to expel Palestinians from the U.S. on security grounds and prohibit the entry of individuals holding passports issued by the Palestinian Authority.
Critics, including Democrats, civil rights activists, and immigrant advocates, have condemned the bill introduced by Republicans. Democratic Representative Bill Pascrell described it as “absolutely despicable.” The ongoing debate highlights the divergent views and policy approaches towards Palestinians residing in the United States.
Reporting by Ted Hesson in Washington, with additional reporting by Rami Ayyub. Editing by Mary Milliken and Aurora Ellis.
