Sixty-nine Democrat lawmakers have called on the State Department and Department of Homeland Security to increase acceptance of Palestinian refugees fleeing the conflict in Gaza.
âWe urge you to explore avenues for Palestinian refugees, especially those with family members in the United States, to seek sanctuary in the U.S.â
The letter, released on World Refugee Day, was directed to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
It requests Mr. Mayorkas and Mr. Blinken to consider certain Palestinian refugees, including those with relatives in the U.S., for inclusion in the âPriority Twoâ category under the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program.
This would designate them as part of a âspecial concern group … in apparent need of resettlement.â
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Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), and Reps. Greg Casar (D-Texas), Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.), and Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) are the lead signatories of the letter, with numerous signatures from members of both houses of Congress including Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Rep. Alexandria Occasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), and Rep. Cori Bush (D-Minn.).
The letter has garnered support from the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, the American Civil Liberties Union, and Project Immigration Justice for Palestinians.
This is partly because Palestinians are unable to access the standard asylum process as they were excluded from the 1951 Refugee Convention.
Many sought refuge in the Rafah area, only to be displaced once again in May when Israel entered the region to dismantle what it considered the last Hamas stronghold.
Meanwhile, negotiations for a cease-fire seemed to have reached an impasse.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the military campaign in Gaza will continue until Hamas’ military and governing capabilities are dismantled, and all Israeli hostages are released.
The Epoch Times has contacted the State Department and Department of Homeland Security for comments.
