In a significant development, the Biden administration is reportedly considering a plan to resettle certain Palestinian refugees from war-torn Gaza in the United States. This move aims to offer a permanent safe haven to those fleeing the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.
The White House is currently in discussions to use the United States Refugee Admissions Program to welcome Palestinians with U.S. ties who have managed to escape Gaza and enter neighboring Egypt, according to internal federal government documents obtained by CBS News. Those who pass a series of eligibility, medical, and security screenings would qualify to fly to the U.S. with refugee status, which offers beneficiaries permanent residency, resettlement benefits like housing assistance, and a path to American citizenship.
The eligible population is expected to be relatively small, but the plans being discussed by U.S. officials could offer a lifeline to some Palestinians fleeing the Israel-Hamas war, which local public health authorities say has claimed the lives of more than 34,000 people and displaced hundreds of thousands of civilians in Gaza.
This initiative comes as the Biden administration has already agreed to "deferred enforced departure," an authority used at a president's discretion, effectively allowing Palestinian immigrants who would otherwise have to leave the United States to stay without the threat of deportation for at least 18 months.
The resettlement of Palestinian refugees, even if small in scale, could garner criticism from Republicans, who have sought to make concerns about immigration and illegal crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border defining issues in November's elections. Some leading Republicans, including presidential candidates, have previously claimed that the U.S. should not welcome Palestinian refugees, alleging they are antisemitic and potential national security risks.
The Biden administration has helped more than 1,800 American citizens and their families leave Gaza, many of whom have come to the United States. This move underscores the administration's commitment to supporting Palestinians who are family members of American citizens and may want to come to the United States.
This potential resettlement initiative is part of broader efforts by the Biden administration to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and offer a measure of relief to those affected by the ongoing conflict. 17GEN4.com