Democratic Representatives Cori Bush from Missouri and Rashida Tlaib from Michigan, both members of the progressive “Squad,” voted against a bill aimed at barring Hamas terrorists from entering the United States.
The bill, officially known as HR 6679 or the “No Immigration Benefits for Hamas Terrorists Act,” received overwhelming support from the House, with 422 members voting in favor.
The legislation, introduced by Republican Representative Tom McClintock from Pennsylvania, sought to expand the existing U.S. ban on Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) officers to include all PLO members.
Furthermore, the legislative move aims to prevent Hamas members and individuals involved in the October 7 attack from entering the United States.
The bill specifically states that any person who “participated in, planned, financed, afforded material support to, or otherwise facilitated” the October 7 attack on Israel or subsequent attacks “shall be ineligible for any relief under the immigration laws.”
While the majority of the House supported the bill, three far-left members, including Bush and Tlaib, either voted against it or voted present. Representative Delia Ramirez from Illinois voted present.
In response to her vote, Tlaib released a press statement, describing the bill as “unnecessary” and redundant with existing federal law.
She accused the Republicans of using it to “incite anti-Arab, anti-Palestinian, and anti-Muslim hatred.”
Ramirez, on the other hand, explained her decision to vote present, stating she is “done with political games.”
She criticized the bill as a “waste of resources and time” that does not meaningfully address border security or protect communities.
The legislation specifically targets individuals involved in attacks initiated by Hamas on October 7, 2023, deeming them inadmissible to the United States.
It’s noteworthy that Representative Tlaib has been vocal in her criticism of Israel, particularly in relation to an incident where she condemned Israel for an airstrike on a Gaza hospital, an incident that U.S. intelligence later attributed to a rocket fired by militants in Gaza that fell short.
The bill’s passage reflects ongoing debates and divisions within Congress on issues related to immigration, national security, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
