Lebanese nationals currently in the U.S. will be granted temporary legal status, the Biden administration announced on Thursday.
This decision is expected to resonate positively with Arab voters, especially in key battleground states such as Michigan.
The initiative, which follows a similar offer made in July, allows around 11,000 Lebanese nationals to apply for Temporary Protected Status (TPS), which will allow them to remain in the U.S. and obtain work authorization for 18 months, provided they were present in the country as of Wednesday.
The Department of Homeland Security stressed that the TPS designation is intended to offer protection while the U.S. engages in diplomatic discussions aimed at achieving lasting stability and security along the Israel-Lebanon border.
President Joe Biden speaks about the federal government’s response to Hurricanes Milton in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, October. 11, 2024, in Washington. On Oct. 17, his administration announced temporary legal status for Lebanese citizens already in the
Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP
The move is seen by some as the administration’s commitment to supporting those affected by ongoing regional conflicts.
Tensions in the Middle East have escalated, particularly since Oct. 8, when Hezbollah began launching rockets into Israel in solidarity with Hamas in Gaza.
In response, Israel has conducted extensive aerial bombardments in Lebanon and initiated a ground invasion designed to push Hezbollah forces back from its borders.
The military action aims to facilitate the safe return of displaced residents in northern Israel.
The conflict’s ramifications are being felt not only in the region but also in the U.S., where both Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump are addressing these issues as they navigate the final weeks of their respective campaigns.
Rescue workers carry remains of people at site that was hit by Israeli airstrikes in Qana village, south Lebanon, October. 16, 2024. Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump have been forced to deal with conflict in Lebanon and across the Mideast in the final weeks of their White House campaign.
Mohammed Zaatari/AP
In Michigan, local leaders have stressed the importance of the TPS designation for Lebanese nationals.
Assad I. Turfe, deputy executive of Wayne County, said that the measure “will provide critical support to Lebanese nationals, helping to reunite families here in America and offering relief from the challenges caused by the conflict.”
As of March, nearly 900,000 individuals were covered by TPS, a program established under a 1990 law that grants legal status to people from countries experiencing natural disasters or civil unrest.
In addition to TPS, some individuals from Lebanon, as well as certain Palestinians, Liberians, and Hong Kong residents, are protected under a similar program called Deferred Enforcement Departure, which operates under the authority of the President rather than the Department of Homeland Security.
The Biden administration’s latest move reflects a broader commitment to addressing the humanitarian needs arising from ongoing conflicts, while also acknowledging the political dynamics within the U.S. that may influence voter sentiment as elections approach.
This article contains additional reporting from The Associated Press
