United States Offers New Immigration Protections to Lebanese Individuals
Lebanon is the newest Middle Eastern country to become embroiled in an expanding conflict, and the United States is taking steps to protect certain Lebanese individuals with immigration benefits. If you are a Lebanese individual, you might want to familiarize yourself with these developments. Of course, you can also work with an experienced immigration lawyer in Palm Beach County to navigate these programs and pursue positive outcomes.
Homeland Security Offers Three New Protections to Lebanese Nationals in U.S.A.
In October of 2024, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that Lebanese nationals residing in the United States had become eligible for two new protections: Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and Deferred Enforcement Departure (DED).
The reasons for these new protections will be obvious to anyone who has been following the news. At the time of this announcement, numerous people in Lebanon had been displaced due to a prolonged bombing campaign targeting cities like Beirut. As a result of these hazards, DHS has come to the conclusion that it is unsafe for Lebanese nationals to return home from the United States.
Temporary Protected Status protections will remain valid for 18 months after this announcement. The DED protections will last a similar length of time, and eligible Lebanese nationals can apply for Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) until January of 2026. This is part of a pre-existing memorandum issued by President Biden in July of 2024.
The third and final protection involves Lebanese students studying in the United States. This takes the form of a “Special Student Relief Notice” that applies to Lebanese individuals studying under an F-1 nonimmigrant visa. This protection is more complex, and it gives students many unique rights. One aspect involves employment authorization to work more hours than normally allowed during educational periods. Another aspect involves the right to reduce course loads while still maintaining F-1 status. Like the other two protections, this will last approximately 18 months from the DHS’s announcement.
The DHS estimates that about 11,000 Lebanese individuals will become eligible for DED and TPS protections. An additional 1,740 Lebanese students will become eligible for the student relief notice. It is worth noting that even if you are not a Lebanese national, you could become eligible for these protections if you are nationless – as long as your last known residence was in Lebanon.
It may be worth discussing these developments with an immigration lawyer. Even if you do not qualify, you might be able to take alternative steps to remain in the United States for an extended period of time.
Can an Immigration Lawyer in Palm Beach County Help Me?
Whether you are eligible for these new protections or not, it may be worth discussing your options alongside an immigration lawyer in Palm Beach County. If returning to your home is impossible due to political, economic, or environmental factors, you may need to explore ways to remain in the United States. You could be eligible for various types of visas, including work permits. Reach out to The Devore Law Group today to continue this conversation.
Sources:
dhs.gov/news/2024/10/17/dhs-offers-protections-lebanese-nationals-currently-united-states
uscis.gov/humanitarian/deferred-enforced-departure
