Biden has announced he will suspending deportations of Palestinians in the United States. His stated reason is the current conflict in Gaza, which would make their return unsafe.
The nature of Palestinians’ overstay in the United States is unclear. It is unknown if the Biden Administration will make a difference between those overstaying legal visas, and those who came across the border illegally.Fox News says:
President Biden on Wednesday issued an order to temporarily halt the deportation of Palestinians from the U.S. for 18 months, citing the worsening humanitarian conditions in the Gaza Strip and West Bank amid Israel’s military offensive against Hamas.
The temporary halt on deportations will be through the Deferred Enforcement Departure, the White House said in a memo.
The risk of pro-Hamas operatives being present in the United States is high. The risk of them acting as terrorist cells is high, should a wider regional war erupt. The NY Times continues:
The decision comes as Mr. Biden faces pressure over the war, particularly among Arab Americans who were once a reliable constituency for him. In recent weeks, pro-Palestinian groups have been demonstrating outside his campaign stops, chanting “Genocide Joe.”
While Mr. Biden’s criticism of the war has grown more forceful since the Oct. 7 attack, the United States has not signaled that it plans major policy changes such as putting conditions on billions of dollars in military aid to Israel.
The division within the Democrat party is biggest when it comes to Israel, with both sides being crucial to secure their coalition. Republicans exploiting these divisions will be crucial for them to win 2024.
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