A bill that sought to prohibit Hamas terrorists who participated in the attack against Israel in October from entering the United States received the vote of all but three representatives, as “Squad” members, Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) and Rep. Cory Bush (R-MO), voted against the measure.
‘Squad’ Democrats Cori Bush and Rashida Tlaib vote against bill to ban Hamas terrorists from US https://t.co/wJpefBsPSM
— Fox News (@FoxNews) February 1, 2024
The bill, HR 6679, dubbed the “No Immigration Benefits for Hamas Terrorists Act,” is an expansion of an existing U.S. ban on Palestine Liberation Organization officers. Introduced by Rep. Tom McClintock (R-PN), it denies members of Hamas and other participants in the Oct. 7 attack entry into the U.S.
As stated in the legislation, “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, is inadmissible.”
With only Tlaib and Bush against the measure and another far-left member, Rep. Delia Ramirez (R-IL) voting present, the bill passed 422-2-1 and will now head to the Senate.
In a press release, Tlaib called the bill “just another” Republican bill intended to incite hatred.
“H.R. 6679 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,” she said.
Explaining why she voted present, Ramirez said that she is “done with political games,” as she argued, “The majority is wasting time bringing a bill that is already current law. There are already no immigration benefits for Hamas terrorists.”
“After participating for 15 hours of a sham impeachment, 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,” she added.
Tlaib and Bush’s stance on the bill aligns with their stance against Israel, as they are among a small minority of Democrats critical of Israel amid its ongoing war with Hamas. On Nov. 8, Tlaib was censured over her promotion of false narratives about the conflict and her use of the phrase “From the river to the sea,” which is seen as a genocidal call for the destruction of Israel.
