By Luis de Jesus
03 Nov 2023, 11:38 PM EDT
A group of Republican congressmen proposed this Thursday in the Lower House a measure that would prohibit Palestinians from entering the United States and that could be used to expel those citizens who arrived in the country after October 1.
Ryan Zinke, former Secretary of the Interior under former President Donald Trump, wrote the text and received the support of 10 Republicans. That would force the Department of Homeland Security to allow visas, asylum and refuge to be approved for people with passports from the Palestinian National Authority, the Efe news agency published.
“Given the circumstances, the threats to our immigration system, and the history of terrorists abusing refugee, asylum, and visa processes around the world, the requirements of this bill are necessary to keep Americans safe,” Zinke said on Platform X.
The rule would also revoke the visas of people of Palestinian origin who entered the United States on or after October 1.
“I trust Joe Biden’s Administration as little as I do the Palestinian Authority to veto who is allowed to come to the United States,” Zinke said in a statement. The congressman defined his proposal as an attempt to protect Americans from Palestinian terrorists.
The Customs and Border Protection Office told Efe that it has not observed any signs confirming that fighters led by Hamas have attempted to enter US territory.
Given the circumstances, the threats to our immigration system, and the history of terrorists abusing refugee, asylum and visa processes all over the world, the requirements in this bill are necessary to keep Americans SAFE. pic.twitter.com/Bn2uWTgBfH
— Rep Ryan Zinke (@RepRyanZinke) November 3, 2023
The terrorist group launched a surprise attack against Israel on October 7 that left 1,400 dead, hundreds injured and hostages. In response, the Israeli State declared war on the militants and, since then, has maintained a strong offensive under the promise that it will end them.
In Gaza, more than 9,250 people have died in the last month due to the Israeli offensive, most of them children and women, and more than 23,500 have been injured, according to Gazan authorities, Efe indicated.
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