Skip to main content

Congress prompts review of high visa rejection rate for Israelis

Secretary of State John Kerry ordered the review after receiving letters from lawmakers.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) meets U.S. Senator John Kerry (D-MA) (C) and Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) (L) at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, March 23, 2010.  REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst (UNITED STATES - Tags: POLITICS) - RTR2BZKA

Secretary of State John Kerry has ordered a review of the surging visa rejection rate for young Israelis following a backlash from Jewish members of Congress, according to a letter obtained by Al-Monitor.

In the letter sent April 17 to Rep. Nita Lowey, D-N.Y., the State Department's assistant secretary for legislative affairs wrote that Kerry "shares" lawmakers' concerns. The secretary, it says, "has directed the Department to take a range of immediate actions to ensure that, consistent with U.S. immigration law, we make every effort to maximize the number of young Israelis able to travel to the United States."

Access the Middle East news and analysis you can trust

Join our community of Middle East readers to experience all of Al-Monitor, including 24/7 news, analyses, memos, reports and newsletters.

Subscribe

Only $100 per year.