Staff Reports
A cadre of Democratic senators is tugging at President Joe Biden’s coat tails, urging him to extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to Palestinians before he cashes in his chips and leaves the Oval Office. While the administration has already granted Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) to some Palestinians since the outbreak of violence in the region, these lawmakers are insisting on more robust protections. Some have argued that the existing measures provide insufficient assurance that Palestinians would be shielded from deportation, raising eyebrows amongst those who value national security.
Border hawks, like Montana Representative Ryan Zinke, are sounding the alarm, linking this proposed policy to national security threats. He suggested that Biden’s pro-Iran, pro-Hamas administration seems to be on a mission to welcome thousands of unvetted Palestinians into the U.S. just as the clock runs out on his presidency. Zinke and his allies are worried about the potential for extremist infiltration, reminding everyone that terror groups like Hamas have a notorious track record of embedding themselves in refugee populations.
‘Smuggle in terrorists’: Dems spark backlash over demands to give Palestinians deportation protection https://t.co/jz5fq3sDxG
— American Wire News (@americanwire_) December 19, 2024
Democrats in the Senate, including Peter Welch and Dick Durbin, argue that the ongoing violence and humanitarian crisis warrant a more welcoming stance toward Palestinians seeking refuge. Their letter references the staggering death toll in Gaza and the deteriorating conditions in the West Bank since October 7. This narrative reeking of sympathy frames Israel’s military response to Hamas attacks as excessive, while conveniently glossing over the context that led to this situation.
Knowing that TPS and DED are similar yet distinct policies providing temporary relief for foreign nationals within the U.S., the conversation quickly turns to the risks involved. Immigration advocates in the Republican party view the idea of extending TPS to Palestinians with skepticism, insisting that the U.S. cannot effectively vet individuals coming from a region rife with terror connections. Reports show that significant portions of the Palestinian population have been supportive of groups like Hamas, and the uphill battle of gathering accurate background information on potential migrants from such a tumultuous area raises significant red flags.
As the Democrats push for their agenda, Republican senators, led by Iowa Senator Joni Ernst, are urging the Biden administration to reconsider any plans to increase the number of Palestinians allowed into the country. They emphasize the challenges associated with overseeing the migration from a war zone and raise alarms about the high approval ratings for Hamas within Palestinian society. Conservative voices argue that the blurring of immigration policy with humanitarian concerns presents a dangerous precedent that risks national security and public safety. The Mueller investigation into the Biden administration’s immigration policies has gained traction as Republicans brace for what they perceive as an imminent surge of unvetted individuals entering the U.S. from hostile regions.
