President Biden on Wednesday shielded thousands of Palestinians in the United States from deportation for the next 18 months, using an obscure immigration authority as he faces mounting criticism over U.S. support for Israel in the Gaza war.

About 6,000 Palestinians are eligible for the reprieve under a program called Deferred Enforced Departure, which allows immigrants whose homelands are in crisis to remain in the United States and work legally.

In a memo obtained by The New York Times, Mr. Biden said that “many civilians remain in danger” in Gaza after the Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas.

“Therefore, I am directing the deferral of removal of certain Palestinians who are present in the United States,” he said.

Archive

  • DarkMessiah@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    31
    arrow-down
    8
    ·
    10 months ago

    Genocide, for one.

    Oh, Israel leadership says they’re only going after Hamas, but they’ve also just been gunning down anyone in the streets who aren’t wearing their colours (demonstrated with a few Americans and Australians being shot), bombing hospitals, and opening up evacuation corridors only to bomb them when they get filled up. They’ve also cut off food and water and internet, so even the civilians who aren’t in the immediate line of fire are suffering and dying.

    I dunno, sounds like genocide to me!