CBC Members Press Israel Over African Migrants

Some Congressional Black Caucus members are urging Israel’s government to end a plan that forces some 40,000 African migrants in the country to choose between deportation or jail. Under the Israeli plan, migrants face a choice between jail and deportation later, or deportation now with cash incentives and free airfare. Until now, most of the migrants who have declined deportation have been free to live and work in Israel, albeit while facing some discriminatory policies. The CBC is urging Israel to adopt the position proposed by advocates for the migrants and to funnel them through existing international refugee processing systems to other countries. “As a close friend of the United States and a vital regional ally, Israel is a beacon of democracy and good governance in the Middle East,” reads the yet-to-be-sent letter to Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu. “Given such a discouraging state of affairs, we seek to mitigate a potential humanitarian crisis." Haaretz reported that 15 of 49 CBC members have signed the letter, including Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Congressmen Alcee Hastings (D-FL) and Elijah Cummings (D-MD). More here.