President Joe Biden’s administration is reportedly exploring a proposal to relocate a number of refugees from Gaza to the United States, as per internal federal government documents obtained by CBS News. Senior officials in the Biden administration are contemplating the possibility of moving specific Palestinian refugees from Gaza to the U.S. if they have immediate family members who are American citizens or permanent residents, as reported by CBS News. Those eligible for refugee status in the United States would potentially receive various benefits including permanent residency, housing assistance, and a pathway to American citizenship.
One of the potential plans under review involves implementing the United States Refugee Admissions Program to bring Gaza refugees to the U.S. if they have connections to the country. Should the Biden administration proceed with this plan, it would necessitate coordination with Egypt to facilitate the process, according to CBS News. In the U.S., individuals must demonstrate that they are seeking refuge due to persecution based on nationality, religion, or political beliefs in order to qualify as refugees, as outlined by CBS News.
In the wake of Hamas’ attack on Israel on Oct. 7, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,200 civilians, President Biden and his administration have reaffirmed their support for Israel in its conflict with the terrorist group. Despite the president’s backing of Israel, he has faced criticism from within his administration and campaign. A high-ranking official in Biden’s education department resigned in January over the president’s approach to the Israel-Hamas conflict. Additionally, a group of anonymous campaign staffers purportedly urged the president to halt unconditional military aid to Israel, accusing him of complicity in genocide.
Presently, supporters of the Palestinian cause are staging demonstrations on college campuses throughout the U.S. to protest against the Israel-Hamas conflict and President Biden’s handling of the situation. Numerous students have joined these protests.