The protections cover about 11,000 Lebanese citizens living in the United States.
The United States announced on Thursday that it is granting temporary protections to Lebanese nationals who are currently in the country amid the Israeli incursion in Lebanon to root out Hezbollah.
In a statement, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said that Lebanese citizens can stay in the United States for 18 months with work permits due to the “ongoing armed conflict and extraordinary and temporary conditions in Lebanon.”
The DHS protections cover about 11,000 Lebanese citizens living in the country.
Temporary protected status-approved individuals “will be able to remain in the country while the United States is in discussions to achieve a diplomatic resolution for lasting stability and security across the Israel–Lebanon border,” the DHS said. Lebanese citizens who enter the United States after Oct. 16 won’t be eligible, the agency said.
Israel launched a series of attacks in Lebanon over the summer targeting the Hezbollah terrorist organization, killing its top commanders, including longtime leader Hassan Nasrallah.
In June, three senators asked the Biden administration to give Lebanese nationals temporary protected status and made a similar request on Tuesday, making note of the recent Israeli military incursion in the country.
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