White House may welcome some Gaza Palestinians as refugees during Israel-Hamas conflict
Amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East between Israel and Hamas, the Biden administration is exploring the possibility of welcoming certain Palestinians to the United States as refugees to help them escape the turmoil in war-torn Gaza.
Internal government documents obtained by CBS News reveal that senior officials from various federal U.S. agencies have been actively discussing potential options to admit Palestinians from Gaza who have immediate family members that are American citizens or permanent U.S. residents. One proposal being considered involves utilizing the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program to bring Palestinians with U.S. connections who have managed to flee Gaza and enter neighboring Egypt.
While another option on the table includes welcoming additional Palestinians from Gaza and processing them as refugees if they have American relatives. However, this proposal would require cooperation with Egypt, which has been hesitant to accept large numbers of people from Gaza.
If these plans move forward, Palestinians from Gaza who pass eligibility, medical, and security screenings would qualify for refugee status in the U.S. This status includes permanent residency, resettlement benefits like housing assistance, and a pathway to American citizenship. The number of eligible individuals is expected to be relatively small, but this initiative could provide a new beginning for some Palestinians seeking to escape the ravages of war.
As the conflict continues to escalate, the Health Ministry of the Hamas-run government in Gaza has reported staggering figures of more than 34,000 fatalities, over 77,000 injuries, and hundreds of thousands of civilians displaced.
The discord between Israel and Hamas reached a boiling point when Hamas terrorists launched a surprise attack on Israel, resulting in over 1,200 casualties. These events led to retaliatory measures from Israeli forces, with Hamas also kidnapping more than 200 individuals, many of whom remain in captivity.
Despite these tumultuous circumstances, the United States remains a prominent provider of humanitarian aid to Gaza, working tirelessly to address the dire conditions. Efforts are being made to expedite aid delivery to those in need. The U.S. government has been steadfast in rejecting any actions that would lead to the forced relocation of Palestinians from Gaza or the West Bank, emphasizing the importance of achieving a sustainable ceasefire through diplomatic channels.
President Biden previously issued a memorandum on Deferred Enforced Departure for certain Palestinians already residing in the U.S., indicating his administration’s commitment to addressing the needs of this population.
The potential admission of Palestinian refugees to the U.S. signifies a departure from past U.S. refugee policy, as the country has historically resettled only a limited number of Palestinians since the inception of the refugee program in 1980. While the U.S. has welcomed more than 400,000 refugees fleeing conflict in the past decade, the number of Palestinian refugees admitted has been disproportionately low.
Applicants seeking refugee status in the U.S. must demonstrate that they are fleeing persecution based on specific criteria such as nationality, religion, or political beliefs.
The Biden administration’s proposal to accept Palestinian refugees, albeit a small group, may face opposition from Republican lawmakers who have made illegal immigration a focal point of their agenda leading up to the upcoming elections. Following the attack by Hamas on Israel, some top Republicans voiced concerns regarding welcoming Palestinian refugees, raising issues of antisemitism and national security risks.
In recent years, the Biden administration has significantly increased refugee resettlement efforts, targeting to admit up to 125,000 refugees in fiscal year 2024, a sharp contrast to the record-low resettlement numbers during the Trump administration.
