Tel Aviv Knife Attack by US Resident May Prompt Review of Morocco Immigration Policy

The young man, originally from Zagora, who was shot dead, held a US resident card. He is identified as the perpetrator of the knife attack that left four injured in Tel Aviv on Tuesday. According to official Israeli sources, the young man was denied entry into the country last Friday. But after additional checks, the competent Israeli authorities finally allowed him to enter the territory, considering that he did not represent a threat.

This incident could have a negative impact on US immigration policies towards Morocco, in view of the restrictions put in place by Donald Trump since his arrival in power. This attack by a Moroccan residing in the United States could lead the Trump administration to reconsider Moroccans’ immigration applications through the "visa lottery" program.

In any case, US immigration policy is not expected to see significant changes under the Trump administration, despite the firmness shown by the new US president, analyzes Khalid Mouna, professor of anthropology and specialist in migration issues, for Achkayen, calling for a distinction to be made between the "visa lottery" which is an immigration policy promoted by the US government, and illegal immigration that the Trump administration has committed to fighting.

The expert does not rule out the possibility that Trump will make decisions against Moroccans, future applicants for the visa lottery, such as imposing new conditions or even canceling visas. For his part, Mohamed Khachani, president of the Moroccan Association for Migration Studies and Research, believes that this isolated case should not affect the US immigration policy towards Morocco, highlighting the excellent quality of the relations between Rabat and Washington.