Nearly 70 Democrats call for opening paths for Palestinian refugees

A group of nearly 70 Democrats is urging Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to consider opening pathways for Palestinian refugees seeking to escape violence in Gaza.

In a letter to Blinken and Mayorkas sent on Thursday, 69 Democratic senators and representatives expressed support for granting Priority 2 designation to Palestinians who are affected by the fighting in Gaza and are relatives of U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents.

A Priority 2 designation gives people special access to the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program based on their circumstances and need for resettlement.

“Since the outbreak of the conflict in Gaza, many congressional offices have received distressing requests for assistance from constituents desperately seeking to reunite with their loved ones,” the letter states.

“We appreciate the steps the Biden administration has taken to evacuate American citizens from Gaza,” the letter continued. “However, without avenues for Americans to petition for their family members in Gaza, countless families with strong ties to our nation remain trapped in life-threatening conditions.”

The letter was led by Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Reps. Greg Casar (D-Texas), Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) and Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.)

“By granting a P-2 refugee processing designation to certain Palestinians, the United States will be giving hope to Americans with relatives in Gaza who have strong ties to our nation but remain trapped in life-threatening conditions,” he wrote. Durbin in a statement. . “The time has come for the United States to lead in this way.”

More than 37,000 Palestinians were killed in Gaza since early October, while more than 85,000 have been injured, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

Meanwhile, around 1.7 million people have been displaced in Gaza, which separately faces “total famine” in the northern part of the region, according to the United Nations.

The war in Gaza has lasted more than eight months since Hamas’ attack on southern Israel left more than 1,200 people dead and another 250 in captivity.

The White House is reportedly considering admitting some Palestinians with U.S.-resident families to the U.S. as refugees. The move, which would offer a relatively small number of people the opportunity to leave Gaza, would mark a change in the US’ long-standing refugee program.

Since its creation in 1980, the program has not resettled Palestinians in the United States in large numbers. Of the more than 400,000 refugees resettled by the US in the last 10 years, fewer than 600 were Palestinians, CBS News reported in April.

Earlier this year, President Biden sent a memo to Blinken and Mayorkas, instructing them to delay for 18 months the removal of certain Palestinians currently living in the US in the wake of the conflict.

Lawmakers noted that Palestinian refugees would need to demonstrate their eligibility, complete an interview with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, provide biometric data and pass required medical exams and security screenings.

Democrats added that the refugee program is a “valuable tool” for the U.S. to help de-escalate conflicts abroad and bolster regional stability.

A Homeland Security spokesperson told The Hill that the agency responds to Congressional questions “directly through official channels.”

The Hill has reached out to the State Department for comment.

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