Democrats, Led by Sen. Durbin, Urge Biden to Grant Temporary Protected Status to Palestinians in US Amid Israeli-Hamas Conflict
Over 100 Democratic lawmakers urge President Biden to grant temporary protections for Palestinians currently in the US due to escalating Israeli-Hamas conflict, seeking to prevent their return to dangerous conditions and potential humanitarian crisis.
- Led by Sen. Dick Durbin, more than 100 Senate and House Democrats have urged President Joe Biden to grant Temporary Protected Status (TPS) or Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) to Palestinian students, tourists and workers currently in the US due to ongoing Israeli-Hamas conflict. The proposed protections would prevent their return to potentially dangerous conditions in the Gaza Strip and West Bank.
- The lawmakers argue that the move aligns with President Biden's commitment to protecting Palestinian civilians and is needed due to the intensifying conflict, citing the rising death toll and the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza.
- TPS and DED provide temporary relief from removal and work authorization for eligible foreign nationals who are unable to return safely to their home countries. Similar protections have been granted in the past by the US in cases of conflict, such as for residents of Kosovo in 1998.
- The call for protections specifically applies to Palestinians already present in the US, not for those still in Gaza or Palestinian refugees in other nations. In 2022, the US issued approximately 7,200 temporary visas to people with Palestinian Authority passports.
- This proposition is set against a backdrop of contrasting political views. While Democrats are proposing protections, some leading Republicans, including former President Donald Trump, have called for barring Palestinians from entering the US, claiming security risks.
The Messenger 