Two Democrat congresswomen voted no on a bill that will bar all members of Hamas and anyone involved in the Islamist terror group’s massacres on October 7, 2023 in Israel. The House vote was 422-2.
Reps. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) and Cori Bush (D-MO) voted no. Another Democrat, Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-IL), voted ‘present.’ The bill was HR 6679, titled “No Immigration Benefits for Hamas Terrorists Act.”
Tlaib issued a statement after the vote in which she called the bill unnecessary and redundant.
“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,” said the Michigan Democrat, who is the only Palestinian American in Congress.
“I made a promise to my residents when they sent me to Congress that I would take meaningful actions to end hateful Trump-era immigration policies, reunite families, welcome migrants and asylum seekers, and reform our immigration system,” Tlaib added. “I reaffirm that commitment today, and will always speak truth to power in the face of disgusting attempts by my colleagues to dehumanize our immigrant neighbors.”
Tlaib has a history of antisemitism so her vote against the bill isn’t much of a surprise. However, accusing Republicans of anti-Arab, anti-Palestinian, and anti-Muslim hatred is beyond the pale. The bill passed with the support of the entire House, including the Democrat caucus. It had the full support of House Judiciary Committee ranking member Jerry Nadler (D-NY). Tlaib and another anti-semitic Democrat, Cori Bush, were the only two House members who voted against it. Rep. Ramirez wimped out and voted present, for whatever reason she had. It is rare for such overwhelming bipartisan support for a bill in the House. Tlaib and Bush are the ones who are out of step.
The reason Tlaib said this bill is redundant is because Hamas and Palestine Islamic Jihad members are already prohibited from entering the United States under existing laws. The new bill is an expansion of that prohibition. The new bill includes the officers of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). The PLO is the governing body of Palestine. The bill bars anyone who was involved in the October 7 massacres in Israel who is not listed as a member of a terrorist group. It is a bill to protect Americans, not one to discriminate against Arabs and Muslims.
Other Squad members voted for the bill, including AOC and Ilhan Omar, even after the Democrat Whip Rep. Katherine Clark, (D-MA) called the bill “widely duplicative” of existing law. She noted in her statement that Hamas members are already barred from entering the United States and not eligible for immigration protections. Hamas is designated as a foreign terrorist organization.
Tlaib’s history in the House is one of anti-Israel behavior.
Tlaib’s vote against the bill falls in line with previous calls for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and a vote against an Israel support resolution in late October. On Nov. 8, the House censured Tlaib over “promoting false narratives” about the Oct. 7 attack against Israel and allegedly calling for the “destruction of the state of Israel.” Twenty-two Democrats had joined all Republicans in supporting the censure.
The bill is not anti-anything except anti-terrorist. Tlaib chooses to divide as she favors Hamas over Americans. Cori Bush did not have a comment on her vote. Perhaps she is trying to stay out of the spotlight since she is under a new investigation by the DOJ.
What does it say that the other extremists in The Squad voted yes on the bill? It says that Tlaib and Bush are the ones who are the divisive ones. Choosing to shelter Hamas is a dangerous way of thinking. Their job is to protect Americans with their work, not invite in the terrorists who wish to kill us.