(Dmytro “Henry” Aleksandrov, Headline USA) Conservative Rep. Ryan Zinke, R–Mont., introduced a bill on Thursday that would protect Americans and others who live in the United States by banning Palestinians from entering the country and possibly expelling those who are already located in the U.S.
Zinke, who used to be a secretary of the Interior Department under Donald Trump, introduced the legislation that was titled the Safeguarding Americans from Extremism Act.
The Department of Homeland Security would be required by the legislation to halt granting visas, asylum and refuge for people who have a passport that was issued by the Palestinian Authority. In addition to that, the entrance or visa for individuals who came to the U.S. after Oct. 1., 2023, would also be revoked by the bill.
“This legislation keeps America safe. I don’t trust the Biden Administration any more than I do the Palestinian Authority to screen who is allowed to come into the United States,” Zinke wrote.
He then said that this is “the most anti-Hamas immigration legislation” that he’s ever seen, adding that it is “well deserved” because people in America need to be protected from potential terrorist threats.
“Given the circumstances, the threats to our immigration system and the history of terrorists abusing refugee, asylum and visa processes all over the world, the requirements in this bill are necessary to keep Americans safe. This bill does exactly that,” Zinke wrote.
DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas would be barred by Zinke’s bill from granting Temporary Protected Status to people with a passport, along with refugee status and asylum. As a result, this action would force the DHS to work with Customs Enforcement and United States Citizenship and Immigration Services to “identify” and remove individuals “without lawful status, including newly revoked status.”
Reps. Andy Harris, R-Md., Aaron Bean, R-Fla., Ralph Norman, R-S.C., Scott DesJarlais, R-Tenn., Clay Higgins, R-La., Ronny Jackson, R-Texas, Bill Posey, R-Fla., Barry Moore, R-Ala., Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., and Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., became the 10 co-sponsors of Zinke’s bill.
