LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Gov. Gretchen Whitmer sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken imploring federal officials “do more” to bring home U.S. and Michigan citizens still located in Lebanon.

Portions of the Detroit area, along with Dearborn and Hamtramck, boast the largest concentration of American-Arabs in the country. Whitmer mentioned in her letter that Michigan legislative and congressional leaders are receiving reports of U.S. citizens struggling to leave the country. A copy of the letter, which has not been made public but has been confirmed by The Detroit News, said flights out of Lebanon have been cancelled or the price of tickets increased to thousands of dollars.

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“We are already hearing reports of confirmed deaths and fear there will be more,” Whitmer wrote. “We cannot stand by while our constituents and their families are suffering.” Israeli forces have been fighting the terrorist group Hezbollah in Lebanon for several weeks.

U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, who represents a large number of Middle Eastern residents in southeastern Michigan, said 148 citizens in her district are facing challenges as they try to leave Lebanon.

 

State Rep. Alabas Farhat (D-Dearborn) is sounding the alarm as well. He announced he is currently in Washington, D.C. meeting with officials and demanding a faster return of citizens to U.S. soil.

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Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud did not hold back referring to the “devastating” news stemming from Lebanon, but also expressed disdain for “[Benjamin] Netanyahu and his cabinet of war criminals.”

 

Meanwhile, Hamtramck Mayor Amer Ghalib, who has placed his support behind former President Donald Trump, issued this statement on social media and pushed back against the Biden administration.

Hamtramck has an all-Muslim city council.