Republican Presidential Candidates Oppose U.S. Welcoming Palestinian Refugees, Despite Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service’s Commitment to Supporting Refugees

The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip has raised the specter of a broader regional conflict and refugee crisis. In response, Republican presidential candidates have come out against the U.S. welcoming Palestinian refugees, claiming their culture is incompatible with American values and that they could be terrorists.

However, according to the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, which provides support to refugees entering the U.S., neither it nor other traditional refugee advocacy organizations have called for raising the number of Palestinians admitted to the U.S.

Palestinians who do find their way to the U.S. as refugees may be coming from other parts of the world while they retain their Palestinian citizenship, or they may have been referred as refugees to the U.N. refugee agency by nongovernmental organizations.

The Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service spokesperson told NBC News that the organization is committed to providing support to refugees entering the U.S., regardless of their nationality or religion. They also noted that the U.S. has a long history of providing refuge to those in need, and that the organization will continue to work to ensure that refugees are treated with dignity and respect.