“The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is announcing new actions to provide temporary immigration reprieve to eligible Lebanese nationals currently in the United States and allowing them the opportunity to request work authorization.”
The Biden-Harris Department of Homeland Security announced on Thursday that it would be giving those Lebanese nationals currently in the United States temporary protected status to stay in the US as the violence in the Middle East has ramped up. Hezbollah, a Lebanese terrorist group backed by Iran, has been waging war against Israel since the Hamas attack on Israel last year.
"The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is announcing new actions to provide temporary immigration reprieve to eligible Lebanese nationals currently in the United States and allowing them the opportunity to request work authorization," DHS said per a press release. Israel has been pushing into Lebanon in an attempt to destroy the terrorist organization that has been launching attacks on Israel. The Israeli Defense Forces have been preparing a ground offensive in Lebanon just as they have gone into Gaza in an effort to remove the Hamas terrorists there.
Loading this lets X set cookies and collect data.
View on XThe release added, "Included in today’s announcement are details related to the Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) for Lebanese nationals as previously announced in July, and a planned new Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation for Lebanon."
The protected status comes as the administration has faced harsh criticism for the controversial Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela (CHNV) humanitarian parole program. It has been allowing 30,000 total immigrants from those countries into the US on a monthly basis, adding to the wave of immigration that has taken place over the course of the Biden-Harris term. The temporary protective status program for Haitians has been repeatedly extended for years and there has been advocacy from Democrat politicians to extend that status for Venezuelans, as well. Both nations are also on a list indicating which countries could have potentially dangerous immigrants, as well.
The extension of the protected status for Lebanese nationals in the US, however, may come with risks as well, as it could incentivize terror-linked individuals from Lebanon to come to the US illegally in an effort to gain the protected status, leading to national security concerns.
Earlier this year, a Hezbollah terrorist was apprehended at the border and when asked why he was in the US, the man said he was wanting to "make a bomb" and go to New York City. Other terrorist threats have occurred because of loose border policies, with at least 99 immigrants on the terrorist watchlist being let into the country between fiscal years 2021 and 2023.
Libby’s Desk
Commentary and must-reads from Libby’s desk, straight to your inbox.
TPM Newsletter
The Post Millennial’s top stories, delivered to your inbox.
