The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on October 17, 2024, that certain Lebanese nationals currently in the United States will soon be eligible to seek temporary immigration-related relief and work authorization due to the ongoing armed conflict and extraordinary conditions in Lebanon.
Through this new action Lebanon will receive Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation, which will allow Lebanese nationals, and individuals with no nationality who last habitually resided in Lebanon, to file TPS applications with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) if they have been continuously residing in the United States since October 16, 2024. Individuals who entered the United States after October 16, 2024, will be ineligible for TPS. Instructions on TPS applications will be published in coming weeks, and no individual should apply for TPS until instructions are published.
The Secretary of Homeland Security may designate a foreign country for TPS due to conditions in the designated country that temporarily prevent the country’s nationals currently in the United States from safely returning to the designated country. TPS designation is provided for causes including ongoing armed conflict, environmental disasters, or other extraordinary and temporary conditions. Approved TPS beneficiaries are not removable from the United States, are able to obtain employment authorization, and may be granted travel authorization. TPS is intended for temporary relief only and is not asylum or a pathway to permanent residency. An application for TPS has no effect on any other immigration benefit, or vice versa.
This new TPS designation follows President Biden’s July 26, 2024 grant of Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) for certain Lebanese nationals due to deteriorating conditions in southern Lebanon. Subject to certain exclusions, Lebanese nationals who have continuously resided in the United States since July 26, 2024 will not be removed back to Lebanon and those in deferred removal may apply for employment authorization with the USCIS for the duration of the DED designation period which is set to expire on January 25, 2026.
Additionally, certain F-1 students from Lebanon may soon be eligible for Special Student Relief allowing them to apply for extraordinary employment authorization as well as reduced course loads throughout the DED designation period. DHS will be publishing a Special Student Relief Notice with further information on this relief available to Lebanese F-1 students.
We will continue to monitor DHS publications for further instructions on TPS and DED Special Student Relief and will inform you as matters develop.
Please contact a member of the Dentons Cohen & Grigsby Immigration Department at 412.297.4900 if you have any questions regarding the above.
