I never really got into any of Richard Gere's films, so I don't have much of an opinion of the guy either way.
I don't know if there are any parallels between the migrant/refugee situation in Europe as opposed to America. We have refugees trying to get into the United States, along with trying to find shelters for them as they wait for their asylum claims to be processed.
I don't see a problem with people like Gere trying to help out people who are in this kind of international legal limbo. Regardless of their status, they still need food, shelter, medical care, and other basic necessities of life.
I don't think Salvini's suggestion that Gere take them all to Hollywood would really work either, since Trump may also refuse them access to the United States. So, it looks like they'll be stuck for a while.