Biden Administration Considers Welcoming Palestinian Refugees

Amidst the ongoing conflict in the Middle East between Israel and Hamas, the Biden administration is considering welcoming certain Palestinians to the United States as refugees, according to internal federal government documents obtained by CBS News. The proposals, which represent a shift in longstanding U.S. government policy, aim to provide a lifeline to Palestinians seeking to escape the violence-ridden Gaza Strip.

The Biden administration is exploring options to welcome Palestinian refugees from the Gaza Strip, seeking to provide a lifeline to those seeking to escape the conflict-ridden region, according to internal federal government documents.

Discussions among senior officials across several federal U.S. agencies have focused on accepting Palestinians with immediate family members who are American citizens or permanent residents, the documents show. One proposal involves using the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program to bring Palestinians with U.S. connections who have escaped Gaza and entered neighboring Egypt.

Another proposal considers processing additional Palestinians as refugees if they have American relatives, which would require coordination with Egypt, which has been reluctant to welcome large numbers of Palestinians from Gaza. Those who pass eligibility screenings, including medical and security checks, would be eligible to be flown to the U.S. with refugee status, which includes permanent residency and resettlement benefits.

The number of eligible individuals is expected to be relatively small, but the plans could provide a lifeline to some Palestinians seeking safety from the ongoing violence in Gaza. The Hamas-run government's Health Ministry estimates that over 34,000 people have been killed, more than 77,000 injured, and hundreds of thousands of civilians displaced in Gaza.

The proposed plans come amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, which has displaced thousands of Palestinians and caused widespread destruction in Gaza. The Biden administration has condemned the attacks and has provided humanitarian assistance to the region, while also pressing for a ceasefire.

The U.S. government has a long history of providing refugee resettlement to individuals fleeing violence and persecution around the world. In the past decade, the U.S. has resettled more than 400,000 refugees, but less than 600 were Palestinian. However, the plan to bring Palestinian refugees to the U.S. would represent a significant shift in policy, as the U.S. has not resettled Palestinians in large numbers since the inception of its refugee program in 1980.

The proposals also come after President Biden issued a memorandum on Deferred Enforced Departure in February for certain Palestinians who were already in the U.S. The administration's plans to welcome Palestinian refugees could face criticism from Republican lawmakers, who have focused on the illegal immigration crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border.

Shortly after Hamas' attack against Israel, top Republicans stated that the U.S. should not welcome Palestinian refugees, claiming they are antisemitic and pose potential national security risks. The Biden administration has argued that providing refuge to those fleeing conflict is a humanitarian imperative and aligns with the U.S. commitment to promoting stability and peace in the Middle East.

The administration has dramatically increased refugee resettlement in recent years, aiming to accept up to 125,000 refugees in fiscal year 2024. Refugee resettlement was cut to record lows during the Trump administration, which implemented policies that restricted entry for asylum seekers and refugees.

The Biden administration's proposals to welcome Palestinian refugees reflect its commitment to addressing the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the Middle East and its belief in the importance of providing refuge to those seeking safety from conflict and persecution.