President Biden flexed his executive powers Wednesday to grant a stay of deportation to Palestinians in the U.S. who lose their legal status, saying conditions back home have deteriorated too badly to force them to return.
He designated them for what’s known as Deferred Enforced Departure, which means that those here on legal temporary visas don’t have to leave when their time expires, and those already here illegally can apply for tentative legal status.
The grant lasts 18 months and can be renewed. Those hoping to take advantage will apply for a permit from Homeland Security.
“Following the horrific October 7, 2023, terrorist attack by Hamas against Israel, and Israel’s ensuing military response, humanitarian conditions in the Palestinian territories, and primarily Gaza, have significantly deteriorated,” Mr. Biden said. “While I remain focused on improving the humanitarian situation, many civilians remain in danger; therefore, I am directing the deferral of removal of certain Palestinians who are present in the United States.”
The election-year move could win back Mr. Biden some of the support of Muslims and immigrants from the Middle East who have objected to his support for Israel in the conflict with Hamas in Gaza.
Deferred Enforced Departure is similar to Temporary Protected Status, another deportation amnesty program. The programs are supposed to be used when a natural disaster, pandemic, war or political unrest makes a country unable to safely welcome back its citizens.
TPS is granted by the Homeland Security Department, while DED comes straight from the president. Both allow for work permits giving recipients a chance to legally hold jobs, which also brings some other taxpayer benefits.
The Biden administration has been particularly generous in its use of both powers, adding hundreds of thousands of migrants to the amnesty rolls. As of December, roughly 700,000 people were protected, according to the Congressional Research Service.
Mr. Biden has previously granted DED to Liberians and residents of Hong Kong.
Then-President Donald Trump granted DED to Venezuelans in the end days of his administration, and it was converted to TPS status by the Biden administration.
Democrats cheered Mr. Biden’s decision on Palestinians.
“More than 28,000 Palestinians — including thousands of women and children — have been killed in the last four months in Gaza. Today’s decision by the administration protects Palestinians in the United States from being forced to return to these clearly dangerous and deadly conditions,” said Sen. Richard Durbin, Illinois Democrat.
TPS and DED are usually granted to a country, making the grant to Palestinians unusual. But there is precedent, with DED having been used for residents of Hong Kong, which is a special administrative district of China.
Mr. Biden said Palestinians who have serious criminal records or other major bars to admissibility, or who are deemed security risks, are not eligible for DED.