Tlaib Statement on Admission of Israel into the Visa Waiver Program

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Representative Rashida Tlaib (MI-12) released the following statement on the Biden Administration’s admission of Israel into the Visa Waiver Program:

“The Biden Administration’s decision to admit Israel into the Visa Waiver Program explicitly condones and enables the Israeli government’s discriminatory practices towards Americans requesting entry, including hours of detainment and interrogation.

“The far-right Israeli government routinely discriminates against Americans seeking to enter the country, even denying myself and Congresswoman Omar entry in 2019. This decision enables further racist practices and violence towards Americans including the murder of Shireen Abu Akleh. The United States has yet to hold the Israeli government accountable.

“The Visa Waiver Program requires that all U.S. citizens are treated equally. I have received consistent reports of discrimination of Americans attempting to enter Israel. No one should be discriminated against due to their national origin, ethnicity, or faith.

“By moving forward with this decision, the U.S. government is allowing a foreign government to discriminate against its own citizens based on protected class. The Israeli government has not and will not uphold reciprocity.”

###