US gives Lebanese nationals protected status during Israel-Hezbollah conflict

Oct 18

Craig Nigrelli Anchor

By Craig Nigrelli (Anchor), William Jackson (Producer), Michael Edwards (Video Editor)

The Biden administration has granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to approximately 11,000 Lebanese nationals currently living in the United States, the Department of Homeland Security announced Thursday, Oct. 18. The designation allows those eligible to remain and work legally in the U.S. for 18 months, provided they were present in the country as of Oct. 18 and meet specific criteria, such as having no disqualifying criminal record or immigration violations.

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The decision comes amid escalating conflict in Lebanon, where Hezbollah has intensified attacks on Israel, further destabilizing the region.

DHS officials stated that TPS is intended to offer protection for individuals who cannot safely return to their home country due to ongoing armed conflict or other extraordinary circumstances.

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This move builds on the Biden administration’s earlier action of granting Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) to Lebanese nationals, which also provided temporary protection from deportation and access to work permits. The new TPS designation expands these protections, allowing more Lebanese nationals to remain in the U.S. as the conflict continues.

In Michigan, home to a significant Arab American population, the decision has been welcomed by local leaders.

State representative Alabas Farhat called the TPS designation a critical step in providing protection and urged the administration to consider additional humanitarian measures for those still suffering abroad.

The current designation for Lebanese nationals is set for 18 months, during which the U.S. will continue diplomatic efforts to stabilize the region.

Tags: Department of Homeland Security, Gaza, hezbollah, Israel, Lebanon, Palestine

[Craig Nigrelli]

FIGHTING BETWEEN ISRAEL AND HEZBOLLAH FORCES IN LEBANON CONTINUE TO ESCALATE. SO THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS GRANTING TEMPORARY PROTECTED STATUS TO LEBANESE NATIONALS CURRENTLY LIVING IN THE U.S. THE MOVE WILL ALLOW APPROXIMATELY 11,000 PEOPLE TO STAY AND WORK LEGALLY FOR 18 MONTHS.

THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY ANNOUNCED THE DECISION THURSDAY AS HEZBOLLAH’S ATTACKS ON ISRAEL CONTINUE AND ISRAEL’S RESPONSES GROW MORE INTENSE.

SO, WHO QUALIFIES? LEBANESE NATIONALS WHO WERE PRESENT IN THE U.S. AS OF OCTOBER 18 ARE ELIGIBLE FOR TPS, PROVIDED THEY MEET SPECIFIC CRITERIA, INCLUDING NOT HAVING COMMITTED ANY DISQUALIFYING CRIMES OR IMMIGRATION VIOLATIONS. TPS PROVIDES PROTECTION FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO CANNOT RETURN TO THEIR HOME COUNTRY SAFELY DUE TO ARMED CONFLICT OR OTHER EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES.

EARLIER THIS YEAR, THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION GRANTED DEFERRED ENFORCED DEPARTURE (DED) TO LEBANESE NATIONALS, PROVIDING TEMPORARY PROTECTION FROM DEPORTATION AND WORK PERMITS. THIS NEW TPS DESIGNATION BUILDS ON THOSE PROTECTIONS.

IN MICHIGAN, A STATE WITH A SIGNIFICANT ARAB AMERICAN POPULATION, LOCAL LEADERS HAVE WELCOMED THE MOVE. MICHIGAN STATE REPRESENTATIVE ALABAS FARHAT, WHOSE DISTRICT INCLUDES A LARGE LEBANESE COMMUNITY, CALLED TPS A CRITICAL STEP IN PROVIDING PROTECTION AND SUPPORT..

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