‘Palestinians Should Not Be Forced To Return’: Leading Democrats Demanding Biden Waive Visa Rules on Foreign Nationals

Leading Democrats, including Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois and progressive Representative Pramila Jayapal of Washington, are demanding that the White House designate the Palestinian territories a “Temporary Protected Status,” permitting foreign nationals to stay in the United States to avoid the escalating war in the Middle East.

“We urge your Administration to designate the Palestinian territories for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and/or authorize Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) for Palestinians present in the United States,” the draft letter to President Joe Biden, first obtained by the Daily Caller on Tuesday, reads. “As you know, TPS and DED offer temporary relief from removal and work authorization for eligible foreign nationals who are unable to return safely to their home countries or part of a country.'”

“In light of [the] ongoing armed conflict, Palestinians already in the United States should not be forced to return to the Palestinian territories,” the note continues before explaining the worsening conditions in the Gaza Strip. “Following the horrific October 7 terrorist attack by Hamas and Israel’s ensuing military response, conditions in the Palestinian territories have greatly deteriorated.” Citing a United Nations agency, Durbin and fellow Democrats noted, “as of October 29, at least 8,000 Palestinians have been killed. This includes more than 3,300 children, which, according to Save the Children, is more than the number of children killed in all of the world’s armed conflicts on an annual basis since 2019.”

“TPS or DED would enable Palestinians currently present in the U.S., including students, tourists, and workers, to be protected from a dangerous return to their homeland while affording them the ability to remain safely in the U.S. and to work legally to support themselves and their families,” the draft letter, which will also be delivered to Secretary of State Antony Blinken,  concluded. “As such, we urge your Administration to designate the Palestinian territories for TPS and/or to authorize DED for Palestinians in the United States without delay.”

Durbin, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has become increasingly vocal about the need for a humanitarian pause in Gaza to help protect civilians, contingent on the release of all hostages taken by Hamas. “Well, I believe that what I said earlier about ceasefire is there are circumstances — for example, the release of those who have been kidnapped as part of it — an indication that this is a good-faith effort on the part of the other side,” Durbin, the second highest-ranking Senate Democrat, told CNN last Thursday. “The release of those kidnapped should be part of this — immediate release. That should be the beginning of it,” he added. “An effort should be made to engage in conversation between the Israelis and Palestinians.”

The reported draft letter comes less than two months after the Biden administration designated Venezuela for TPS status, permitting nearly half a million illegal migrants who had entered the United States since July to legally work and continue to live in the country.

“Temporary protected status provides individuals already present in the United States with protection from removal when the conditions in their home country prevent their safe return,” Alejandro Mayorkas, secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, wrote in a statement at the time announcing the move. “That is the situation that Venezuelans who arrived here on or before July 31 of this year find themselves in. We are accordingly granting them the protection that the law provides.”

Another program created by the White House permitted nearly 30,000 migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela to obtain authorization to live and work in America for up to two years if they have a financial sponsor and clean background checks.