Rep. Ryan Zinke, the now-Congressman who served as former President Donald Trump’s Secretary of the Interior, just introduced legislation that would, among other things, expel Palestinians from the United States in an attempt to show support for Israel and keep Americans safe from terrorism.
Zinke announced the bill, called the “Safeguarding Americans from Extremism” (SAFE) Act, in a press release, explaining that it would revoke visas issues to certain covered aliens from Palestine and place other limitations on them, bar their entry, and not let those holding Palestinian visas into the United States.
The press release, which defined “covered aliens” as “an alien who is a holder of a passport or other travel document issued by the Palestinian Authority” and explained those policies in a series of bullet points enumerating the policies, said:
- Render Palestinian Authority passport holders (covered aliens) inadmissible to the U.S.
- Bar DHS Sec from granting immigrant/non-immigrant visas to covered aliens.
- Revoke visas issued to covered aliens on or after October 1.
- Bar DHS Secretary from granting covered aliens Temporary Protected Status.
- Bar DHS Secretary from granting future asylum or refugee status to covered aliens.
- Revoke Refugee or Asylum status for covered aliens if requested on or after October 1.
- Bar DHS Sec from paroling a covered alien.
- Revoke parole of covered aliens if paroled on or after October 1.
- Direct DHS with ICE/USCIS to identify and remove covered aliens without lawful status (including newly revoked status).
Rep. Zinke, for his part, said, “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. This is the most anti-Hamas immigration legislation I have seen and it’s well deserved. 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.”
Similarly, his office, summarizing the policies, said, “Today, Western Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke introduced the Safeguarding Americans from Extremism (SAFE) Act to prevent Palestinian terrorists from abusing the United States’ legal immigration system by requiring the Department of Homeland Security to implement a pause on all visas, refugee status and granting of asylum for individuals holding a passport issued by the Palestinian Authority (PA). It also revokes any entrance of covered aliens who were granted visas or entered the United States on or after October 1, 2023.”
The press release also gave examples of acts of terrorism committed by refugees and immigrants from the Middle East. One, from ABC, was, “The Department of Justice announced the arrest of a Syrian refugee on Wednesday in connection with an Islamic State-inspired terrorist attack on a Christian church in Pittsburgh. Mustafa Mousab Alowemer, 21, was accused by federal prosecutors in court documents filed on Wednesday of planning to attack a church on the north side of Pittsburgh, the Legacy International Worship Center, “to support the cause of ISIS and to inspire other ISIS supporters in the United States.”
The 10 co-sponsors of the SAFE Act are Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD), Rep. Aaron Bean (R-FL), Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC), Rep. Scott DesJarlais (R-TN), Rep. Clay Higgins (R-LA), Ronny Jackson (R-TX), Bill Posey (R-FL), Barry Moore (R-AL), Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), Andy Biggs (R-AZ).
Featured image credit: By U.S. Government – www.DOI.gov, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=56892336
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