Reps. Lee, Bowman, and Colleagues Call for Accountability on Discrimination Against Palestinian-Americans in Israel’s Visa Waiver Program

For Immediate Release
November 21, 2024
Contact: vaibhav.vijay@mail.house.gov

Reps. Lee, Bowman, and Colleagues Call for Accountability on Discrimination Against Palestinian-Americans in Israel’s Visa Waiver Program

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Summer Lee (PA-12), Congressman Jamaal Bowman, Ed.D. (NY-16), and a coalition of 18 other Members of Congress sent a letter today to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, raising concerns about Israel’s treatment of Palestinian-Americans under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP).

The VWP allows citizens of participating countries to travel to the U.S. for up to 90 days visa-free for business, tourism, or transit. In return, all U.S. citizens are guaranteed visa-free entry to those countries. A critical requirement of the program is total reciprocity: all U.S. citizens must receive equal treatment, regardless of ethnicity, religion, or national origin.

The letter highlights mounting evidence that Israel is failing to meet these standards, with reports of Muslim, Arab, and Palestinian-Americans being subjected to invasive questioning, discriminatory barriers, and systemic exclusion. It further notes instances where Palestinian-Americans, including doctors attempting to provide humanitarian aid in Gaza, have been denied entry—disrupting critical assistance during a time of crisis.

The Members of Congress demanded transparency and action, specifically requesting:

• Details on how the Departments of State and Homeland Security are assisting U.S. citizens facing discrimination when entering Israel or the West Bank;
• Information on who U.S. citizens can contact to report violations and receive assistance under the VWP;
• A copy of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the U.S. and Israel, including any amendments;
• All data on Israel’s compliance with program requirements, as well as an agency evaluation of Israel’s standing in the program.

Congresswoman Summer Lee (PA-12):
“The Visa Waiver Program is a privilege, not a right. It demands reciprocal treatment for all U.S. citizens, regardless of their ethnicity, religion, or place of origin. Reports of Muslim and Arab Americans being subjected to invasive questioning, discriminatory barriers, and systemic exclusion are deeply troubling and undermine the integrity of this program. No American should face this kind of treatment when traveling abroad, and we have a responsibility to hold Israel accountable to the same standards as any other participant in the program.”

Congressman Jamaal Bowman, Ed.D. (NY-16):
“Muslim, Arab, and Palestinian-Americans are entitled to the same reciprocal treatment as any U.S. citizens traveling under the Visa Waiver Program. It is deeply concerning to see reports that Israel is systemically treating some U.S. citizens differently based on their religion, ethnicity, or national origin. The denial of entry for Palestinian Americans to Palestine is part of a deeper campaign to erase the Palestinian identity. In particular, banning Palestinian-American doctors from entering Gaza during a critical time of war is depriving Gazans of people with deep cultural ties and critical language skills. Israel must be held to the same standard as any other nation participating in the Visa Waiver Program, and it is the responsibility of the U.S. Department of State and Department of Homeland Security to ensure Americans receive equal treatment from Israel while traveling.”

Hanna Hanania, Former President and Co-Chair of the Government Affairs Committee for the American Federation of Ramallah, Palestine (AFRP):
“Israel’s systematic violations of the Visa Waiver Program must be addressed and corrected. We at the American Federation of Ramallah have received hundreds of firsthand accounts detailing the discrimination Americans of Arab descent have faced when attempting to enter Israel. Our extensive catalog of Israel’s violations of the Visa Waiver Program, which spans back to November 2023, further evidences how pervasive an issue this is. America must take action to ensure Israel adheres to the rules and regulations befitting an allied country that has been admitted to the Visa Waiver Program.”

Chris Habiby, National Government Affairs and Advocacy Director at the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC):
“For decades Israel has systematically discriminated against Arab, Palestinian, and Muslim American travelers, a problem that has not been resolved over the last year that Israel has participated in the Visa Waiver Program. ADC thanks Representatives Bowman and Lee for leading this effort to get real answers and information from the Biden Administration.”

The letter was co-signed by:
Reps. Cori Bush, André Carson, Greg Casar, Jesús García, Raúl Grijalva, Jonathan Jackson, Pramila Jayapal, Henry Johnson,Zoe Lofgren, Betty McCollum, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, Chellie Pingree, Mark Pocan, Ayanna Pressley, Delia Ramirez, Rashida Tlaib, and Nydia Velázquez.

Full letter is attached here.