Two House Democrats voted against a bill to deny refuge in the United States to noncitizens involved with aiding Hamas in carrying out the deadly attack on Israel on October 7 of last year.
Reps. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) and Cori Bush (D-MO), who is facing a criminal inquiry into her expenditures on security services, opposed the Immigration Benefits for Hamas Terrorists Act. Both lawmakers are members of the leftist “Squad” who have been critical of U.S. support for Israel as it fights Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
One other Democrat, Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-IL), voted “present.” The rest of the Democrats who voted, 207 of them, joined with all 215 voting Republicans to pass the measure. Six members did not vote.
The bill, which now heads to the Senate, was introduced by Rep. Tom McClintock (R-CA), who said it “provides that any alien who carried out, participated in, planned, financed, afforded material support to, or otherwise facilitated any of the attacks against Israel initiated by Hamas beginning on October 7, 2023 be inadmissible for citizenship and be ineligible for any relief under immigration law” such as protection from being deported or asylum in the United States.
Tlaib, who is the sole Palestinian American member of Congress, argued the bill is “unnecessary because it is redundant with already existing federal law. It’s just another GOP messaging bill being used to incite anti-Arab, anti-Palestinian, and anti-Muslim hatred that makes communities like ours unsafe.”
Ramirez said she voted “present” because she is “done with political games” after participating in the lengthy Homeland Security Committee meeting that led to the advancement of two articles charging high crimes and misdemeanors against Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas for his handling of border security.
“There are ALREADY no immigration benefits for Hamas terrorists,” she said, adding later, “I could not stomach another bill only introduced to score cheap political points, politicize immigration, and divide our communities. Like the Republican’s sham impeachment, this bill does not meaningfully address border security nor further protect our communities. H.R.6679 is unnecessary. It’s a waste of resources and time. And I’m not playing along.”
Some Republicans posted to X about their vote for the bill after its passage in the House and what it signals about the U.S. stance on the Hamas terrorist attacks.
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“Anyone who participated in, facilitated, or assisted Hamas in carrying out the October 7th attacks on Israel has no place in the United States,” said Homeland Security Committee Chairman Mark Green (R-TN). “America will NOT be a sanctuary for terrorists,” said Rep. Burgess Owens (R-UT).
The GOP-led House also passed another bill from McClintock on Wednesday, this one seeking to remove or bar any noncitizen who commits Social Security and ID fraud. That measure garnered less support from Democrats, with 55 voting for it and 155 against it.