The Biden administration is exploring the possibility of resettling Palestinian refugees from Gaza in the United States, marking a potential shift in refugee policy. This move would signify the first time the U.S. refugee program, established in 1980, has considered large-scale resettlement of Palestinians.
Former President Donald Trump had vowed to restrict refugees from Gaza and other regions deemed as terrorism hotspots. He declared, “We aren’t bringing in anyone from Gaza or Syria or Somalia or Yemen, or Libya, or anywhere else that threatens our security,” in a speech back in October 2023.
BREAKING NEWS: Biden admin. considering allowing Palestinian refugees into the U.S. and providing them a path to become American citizens pic.twitter.com/Jr32Et9Puo
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) April 30, 2024
Documents obtained by CBS News reveal discussions within several federal agencies under the Biden administration regarding the practicality of resettling Palestinians from Gaza who have immediate family ties to American citizens or permanent residents.
Various options are being considered for bringing in Palestinians, including classifying them as refugees if they have relatives in the U.S. Additionally, they may claim persecution based on nationality, religion, or political views, potentially citing threats from groups like Hamas or even Israel.
Coordination with Egypt would be crucial for any plans to allow Palestinians to leave Gaza, as Egypt controls the Rafah border crossing, which has remained largely closed to displaced Palestinians.
Once Palestinians pass screenings for entry into the U.S., they would travel to the country and begin the process of obtaining permanent residency, a privilege granted to designated refugees.
Do you support the Biden administration's secret plan to resettle hundreds of thousands of Palestinian refugees in the United States? pic.twitter.com/51hl30VSjC
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) April 30, 2024
While the U.S. has admitted and resettled over 400,000 refugees in the past decade, the number of Palestinians admitted has been relatively low, with less than 600 resettled. However, a recent program launched by the Biden administration has facilitated entry for an additional 30,000 illegal immigrants from specific countries, including Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela.
President Biden has been vocal about his commitment to refugee resettlement since taking office, maintaining a total admissions ceiling of 125,000 for Fiscal Year 2024, in line with targets set in previous years. This decision reflects the U.S.’s ongoing leadership in refugee resettlement amidst a global displacement crisis driven by war, persecution, and instability.
