US grants temporary protected status to Lebanese nationals amid Israel war

The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced a new “temporary protected status” allowing Lebanese nationals in the US to remain in the country and apply for work permits, as the “ongoing armed conflict” in Lebanon continues with Israel expanding its invasion and its attacks on Hezbollah.

As of July 2024, around 11,500 Lebanese nationals were believed to be in the US on nonimmigrant visas for business, tourism, temporary work or other opportunities, with California and Michigan hosting the most. About 11,000 of them will probably now be eligible to apply for temporary protected status, as well as for deferred enforced departure – in other words, protection from deportation. An additional 1,740 students from Lebanon may also be eligible for special student relief.

The US state department recently urged Americans to depart Lebanon.

The latest announcement includes new details on a deferred enforced departure for Lebanese nationals that was announced back in July, and a planned new temporary protected status designation for the country.

The designation will last 18 months “due to ongoing armed conflict and extraordinary and temporary conditions in Lebanon that prevent nationals of Lebanon from returning in safety”, the DHS stated.

The US has said it opposes the scope of Israeli air strikes in the Lebanon capital, Beirut, while continuing to provide military support to Israel.

Lebanese people who had been in the US before 16 October and who are approved under the temporary protected status will be permitted to remain in the US. Those who entered after 16 October will not be eligible. Eligible Lebanese nationals can also apply for employment authorization documents that will be valid until 25 January 2026 under Joe Biden’s deferred enforced departure program.

In June three Democratic senators asked the Biden administration to give Lebanon temporary protected status, and followed up their request on Tuesday, noting the growing food insecurity, economic collapse and political destabilization in the area.

“In the months since our request, the armed conflict between Hezbollah and Israel has only intensified, claiming the lives of civilians, and worsening the already dire humanitarian emergency,” wrote Ben Cardin of Maryland, Gary Peters of Michigan and Dick Durbin of Illinois.

“Lebanese as well as international agencies, and the US Agency for International Development (USAID) report the displacement of more than one million people, internally.”