As of November 27, 2024, the Secretary of Homeland Security, Mr. Alejandro Mayorkas, has designated Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Lebanon. TPS is a temporary immigration status provided to individuals of certain countries, designated by the Secretary of Homeland Security. TPS designation is given to nationals of countries where conditions are deemed unsafe. Conditions that may allow a country to be designated include:
- An ongoing armed conflict
- Extraordinary and temporary conditions
- An environmental disaster
To qualify for TPS one must:
- Be a national from a foreign country with TPS designation or habitually reside in it;
- Be present in the US since the date of designation for the country;
- have continuously resided in the United States since the effective date of designation, and;
- Not be inadmissible to the United States or banned from asylum due to criminal or national security concerns.
Lebanon was recently designated due to the ongoing armed conflict as well as extraordinary and temporary conditions. The Lebanon-Israel border has posed significant risk since October 7, 2023 because of ongoing conflict. In September of 2024, the conflict escalated with Israel launching a ground invasion of Southern Lebanon. Israeli airstrikes targeting Hezbollah forts including ones in urban areas and around the capital, Beirut, have led to many civilian casualties. Since October of last year, around 2000 people have died in Lebanon with 10,000 injured, over half a million people being displaced and over 200,000 seeking refuge in Syria (USCIS).
Along with his announcement of TPS designation for Lebanon, Secretary Mayorkas announced a Special Student Relief notice for F-1 nonimmigrants so that students with Lebanon as their country of citizenship can request employment authorization as well as work more hours and reduce their course load.
Overall, the TPS designation for Lebanon will provide humanitarian relief to individuals affected by the country’s perilous conditions.
