What will this $20.3 million be used for? Where will these refugees go, especially given that Palestinian refugee status is now something that is handed down to children and grandchildren? Does Obama mean to pressure the neighboring Arab countries to take refugees from Gaza? Does he mean to bring them to the United States? If he is thinking about bringing them here, will he do anything to try to prevent our importation of Hamas jihadists?
Presidential memorandum No. 2009-15, issued on February 2, 2009 (thanks to Michael):
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE
SUBJECT: Unexpected Urgent Refugee and Migration Needs Related to Gaza
By the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, including section 2(c)(1) of the Migration and Refugee Assistance Act of 1962 (the “Act”), as amended (22 U.S.C. 2601), I hereby determine, pursuant to section 2(c)(1) of the Act, that it is important to the national interest to furnish assistance under the Act in an amount not to exceed $20.3 million from the United States Emergency Refugee and Migration Assistance Fund for the purpose of meeting unexpected and urgent refugee and migration needs, including by contributions to international, governmental, and nongovernmental organizations and payment of administrative expenses of the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration of the Department of State, related to humanitarian needs of Palestinian refugees and conflict victims in Gaza.
You are authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register.
BARACK OBAMA
UPDATE: Eastview asks a pointed question in the comments below: “Who chooses what specific organization get[s] this $20.3 million, what restrictions are there on the goods and services it purchases, what mechanism exists to monitor its flow, and what are the reporting requirements? Or is O just going to cut HAMAS a check?”