Biden administration contemplating bringing Palestinian refugees into US: Report
The Biden administration is reportedly considering bringing certain Gazan refugees into the United States.
According to internal federal government documents obtained by CBS News, senior officials from federal agencies have considered plans to resettle some Palestinian refugees in the U.S. as the war between Israel and Hamas nears seven months. The plans discussed would only allow Palestinians with immediate family members who are American citizens or permanent residents of the U.S. to settle there.
The Washington Examiner reached out to the White House, State Department, and Department of Homeland Security for comment.
The Palestinian refugees would have to meet stringent qualifications, including eligibility, medical, and security screenings, then provide proof that they are fleeing due to persecution, such as of their nationality, religion, or political views, according to the report. Palestinians could opt to select the Israeli government as their persecutor, setting up an awkward situation for the allied U.S. government.
U.S. officials have reportedly weighed several proposals, one of which would be to use the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program and coordinate directly with Egypt to resettle Palestinians who escaped to the country from Gaza. Such plans could prove difficult, however, as the Egyptian government has refused to accept a large number of refugees.
Refugees brought to the U.S. through the program would be granted housing assistance and a path to American citizenship.
The discussions would be a major change in policy for the U.S., with the U.S. not accepting a significant number of Palestinian refugees in recent years. In fiscal 2023, only 56 of 60,000 refugees accepted into the U.S. were Palestinians.
The report drew outrage from Republicans, with the issue serving as a confluence of two hot-button issues: the war in Gaza and immigration.
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“You think the anti-Israel protests are bad now? Just wait,” Rep. Troy Nehls (R-TX) said in a post on X with a link to the report.
“Let me get this straight. Pro-Hamas lunatics have taken over college campuses. And Joe Biden’s response is to consider ‘welcoming refugees from Gaza’? Absolute disgrace,” Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-GA) said.
