On the recordJune 26, 2024
Last November, I joined my Democratic colleagues in sending a letter to President Biden to urge him to designate the Palestinian territories for temporary protected status and/or authorize Deferred Enforcement Departure for Palestinians in the United States. I called on the President to take this action because I knew it would save lives, and I applaud the administration for taking this action. The administration's policy includes important exemptions, too, such as for individuals convicted of felonies or who otherwise pose a public safety threat. We know that many civilians remain in danger in Gaza after the horrific attacks by Hamas on October 7. The humanitarian conditions in Gaza continue to be appalling, and children have been disproportionately harmed. This amendment is cruel and unjustifiable. Furthermore, even if it were adopted, it likely would not accomplish anything except creating chaos related to the implementation of a policy that involves agencies that are not only in DHS, but also in the Departments of State, Justice, and Labor. The funds made available by the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act do not impact USCIS's fee-funded operations, which would create confusion even within DHS about how to implement this amendment if it were enacted. This amendment is nonsensical, and it ignores the realities of how our agencies actually work to solve pressing issues.…





