Only two members of the House of Representatives on Wednesday voted against a measure aimed at banning Hamas terrorists involved in last October’s attacks on Israel from entering the US — Reps. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) and Cori Bush (D-Mo.).
The No Immigration Benefits for Hamas Terrorists Act, introduced by Rep. Tom McClintock (R-Calif.), will consider any member of Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, the Palestine Liberation Organization or other individuals participating in or facilitating the Oct. 7 2023, terrorist attacks on the Jewish state are ineligible to enter the US, even if seeking asylum.
The bill passed the lower house 422-2, with Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.) voted present and six members abstained.
Tlaib, a vocal critic of Israel’s war on Hamas and the Biden administration’s support for it, argued that the bill was “overkill” and would be used by Republicans to “incite” hatred.
“HR 6679 is unnecessary because it is redundant with existing federal law,” the Michigan Democrat said in a statement. “It’s just another GOP messaging bill used to incite anti-Arab, anti-Palestinian and anti-Muslim hatred that makes communities like ours unsafe.”
Representative Rashida Tlaib (right) argued that the bill was “overkill” and would be used by Republicans to “incite” hatred. Allison Bailey/NurPhoto/Shutterstock Reps. Rashida Tlaib and Cori Bush voted against a measure aimed at banning Hamas terrorists involved in the October attacks on Israel from entering the US. C-SPAN
Bush, who like Tlaib is a member of the far-left “Squad” of congressional Democrats, echoed his colleagues’ opposition to McClintock’s bill.
“I oppose HR 6679 because it is an overblown and empty messaging bill that Republicans use to target immigrants and incite anti-Palestinian hatred,” he tweeted. “Republicans have ZERO credibility on this issue.”
Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad have both been designated Foreign Terrorist Organizations by the State Department since October 1997, and as such, their members have already been barred from entering the US.
Rep. Cori Bush (center) speaks with Rep. Rashida Tlaib (second from right) at a press conference with activists calling for a ceasefire in Gaza at the House Triangle in front of the Capitol in Washington, DC. Annabelle Gordon – CNP / MEGA
However, HR 6679 extends the ban to members of the Palestine Liberation Organization and anyone involved in the October 7 attack who is not a member of a terrorist group.
“It is imperative that Congress ensure that these bad actors will not find refuge in the United States,” McClintock said in a statement after the passage of HR 6679, which now heads to the Senate.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
