The U.S. House of Representatives voted to deny entry into the United States to non-U.S. citizen members of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad who attacked Israel on Oct. 7.
The bill, introduced by Rep. Tom McClintock, drew dissenting votes from Reps. Rashida Tlaib and Cori Bush, who criticized it as redundant and aimed at targeting immigrants and inciting hate.
A resolution affirming Israel’s right to exist was also mentioned.
“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 Oct. 7, 2023, is inadmissible,” the bill read.
“H.R. 6679 is unnecessary because it is redundant with already existing federal law,” Tlaib said. “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.”
“I opposed H.R. 6679 because it is a redundant, empty messaging bill Republicans are using to target immigrants and incite anti-Palestinian hate. Republicans have zero credibility on these issues,” Bush said.
The bill now needs to pass in the Senate to become law.
