Two U.S. senators, Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), have introduced a bipartisan bill aimed at preventing any immigrants with ties to Hamas or involvement in the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel from entering the United States. The “No Immigration Benefits for Hamas Terrorists Act” seeks to explicitly bar individuals linked to Hamas or Palestinian Islamic Jihad from entering the country or receiving any immigration benefits.
While U.S. immigration law already disqualifies individuals with terrorist connections from entry, this bill adds specific provisions to ensure that representatives, officers, or members of these groups, as well as anyone involved in the deadly attacks, are explicitly prohibited. The bill also stipulates that individuals who participated, financed, or supported the attacks will be deemed inadmissible, preventing them from seeking refuge or immigration relief.
This legislation builds on a similar measure introduced in the House by Rep. Tom McClintock (R-Calif.), which passed overwhelmingly with only two dissenting votes. The bill is expected to gain traction in the Senate and may soon reach President Biden or President-elect Trump’s desk.
The bill’s sponsors argue that it is necessary due to concerns over security. Blackburn noted that the Biden administration has allowed dangerous individuals, including those on the terrorist watchlist, to enter the U.S. since 2021. Rosen also stressed the need for a bipartisan effort to prevent individuals connected to Hamas from receiving U.S. immigration benefits.
However, the bill has been met with opposition from some members of the “Squad,” a progressive group of Democratic lawmakers. Reps. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) and Cori Bush (D-Mo.) argued that the bill is redundant and accused Republicans of using it to fuel anti-Arab, anti-Palestinian, and anti-Muslim sentiments. Despite this opposition, the bill has garnered support from across the aisle, reflecting a rare moment of bipartisan agreement on immigration issues, such as border security and countering human trafficking.
With immigration and border security being a central issue for the incoming Trump administration, this legislation is expected to play a significant role in shaping the nation’s immigration policies in the years to come.
