Biden Admin Moves to Shield Thousands of Lebanese Nationals in US From Deportation

The Biden administration announced Thursday that it will be moving to protect Lebanese nationals in the U.S. from deportation and allow them to obtain work permits, arguing that it can’t return them due to the conflict with Israel.

The Department of Homeland Security announced that it is designating Lebanon for Temporary Protected Status, which allows nationals who are living in the U.S. already to obtain work permits and be shielded from deportation. The designation is for 18 months and applies to any national in the U.S. on Wednesday or earlier.

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The TPS designation builds upon a move by President Biden in July to grant Deferred Enforced Departure (DED), which delays deportations for 18 months, for certain Lebanese nationals in July. But TPS acts as an immigration benefit rather than just an act of executive authority by the president.

DHS estimates that approximately 11,000 Lebanese nationals will be eligible for protection under DED or TPS.

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