February 13, 2024

Warren, Booker, Senators Call for Swift Action to Assist Family Members of American Citizens Trapped in Gaza

Text of Letter (PDF)

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) joined Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and 14 colleagues calling on Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas to expand assistance for relatives of U.S. citizens stranded in Gaza. The senators expressed concerns about the current limited eligibility criteria for State Department assistance and advocated for the inclusion of additional family members beyond current practices. They also urged the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to expedite the review and adjudication of Gaza residents’ applications for humanitarian parole to the United States. The senators requested information on the current processes in place to assist individuals stuck in Gaza who would otherwise be eligible for visas or visa renewals by March 14. 

“We represent constituents who are desperately seeking their family members’ safe departure from Gaza,” the senators wrote. “Today, we write to urge you to expand the eligibility criteria for those able to receive State Department assistance in departing Gaza beyond immediate family members of American citizens and enhance the level of U.S. assistance to relatives of American citizens who have safely departed Gaza and seek to be united with their loved ones in the United States,” The senators explained that it remains imperative that the State Department exert maximum effort toward not only helping American citizens, but also helping their family members swiftly and securely depart the region. 

Additionally, the senators expressed serious concerns about a number of aspects of the current process to help U.S. citizens and their family members currently trapped in Gaza, and are seeking answers from the State Department for the following questions:

  1. What is the basis for the current State Department policy regarding the categories of people eligible for the Department’s assistance in departing Gaza through the Rafah Crossing?

  2. What processes are in place to assist individuals stuck in Gaza who would otherwise be eligible for consideration for visas or visa renewals but who have had visas expire during the current conflict?

Currently, the State Department considers a narrow group of  people eligible for U.S. assistance in submitting their names to the relevant Egyptian and Israeli authorities for the ability to cross the border into Egypt at the Rafah Crossing, including U.S. citizens and their spouses and children, and lawful permanent residents with an expired green card and their spouses and children.

“We believe the above limited groups of people currently eligible for assistance from the Department are too narrow and restrict our ability to secure the safe departure of U.S. citizen family members, including their brothers, sisters, nieces, and nephews, who are caught in the crossfire of this conflict. We urge the Department to quickly expand the categories of people eligible for this assistance to include, at a minimum, any American citizen’s children, siblings, and sibling’s spouses and children—regardless of marital status and age—as well as unmarried grandchildren under the age of 21,” the senators continued.

The senators urged DHSto expedite the review and adjudication of Gaza residents’ applications for humanitarian parole, including for people that remain stuck in Gaza and are unable to physically appear in-person at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate for parole processing. 

Given the dangerous conditions in Gaza, the senators are urging the State Department and DHS to quickly implement their policy recommendation to help U.S. citizens and their families get out of harm’s way. 

The letter is cosigned by Senators Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), and Peter Welch (D-Vt.).

Senator Warren has been a vocal supporter of action to bring back Americans trapped in Gaza and sending humanitarian aid to the region. 

  • This week, Senator Warren issued a statement emphasizing the need for Congress to enforce Israel’s conditions for receiving aid, including following international law, protecting civilians in war zones, and allowing for humanitarian aid to be delivered. 

  • On February 2, 2024 Senator Warren joined Senators Murphy, Van Hollen, Coons, Merkley, and 20 other colleagues in urging the Biden administration to work with Israel to get more humanitarian aid into Gaza.

  • On December 6, 2023, Senator Warren delivered a floor speech calling out the humanitarian crisis sparked by Israel’s military strategy in Gaza and calling for a resumption of the ceasefire agreement, acceleration of humanitarian aid, protection of innocent civilians, and a release of all hostages. 

  • On November 20, 2023, Senator Warren joined her colleagues in calling for humanitarian aid to be delivered to the region to protect innocent lives on the Gaza strip. 

  • On November 8 Senator Warren joined Senators Van Hollen, Murphy, Schatz, Reed, and the majority of the Democratic Caucus in asking the Biden administration for more information on protecting civilians in Gaza.

  • On November 3, 2023, Senator Warren joined Ed Markey (D-Mass.) again urged Secretary of State Antony Blinken and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan urging them to take additional steps to provide safe passage for Americans trying to leave Gaza, including a family from Plymouth, Massachusetts. 

  • On October 19, 2023 Senator Warren, Senator Murphy, and 32 of their colleagues called for the Biden administration to lead the international community in contributing to the United Nations’ emergency appeal to address humanitarian needs in the West Bank and Gaza.

  • On October 18, 2023, Senator Warren joined colleagues in urging Secretary of State Antony Blinken and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan to do everything possible to provide assistance to U.S. citizens fleeing the Gaza Strip, including residents from New England. 

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