The spiraling conditions in Gaza, currently under the throes of a war, have propelled the U.S. Administration led by President Biden, to offer respite to its Palestinian residents: an 18-month stay from deportation.
Despite the war-torn situation in the region posing escalating risks to civilians, the focus remains steady on ameliorating the humanitarian crisis.
A Welcome Respite for Palestinian Civilians in the U.S.
“I am directing the deferral of removal of certain Palestinians who are present in the United States,” President Biden stated in a memorandum.
This decision allows Palestinian students, tourists, and workers in the U.S. to evade deportation until August 2025.
The move also opens avenues for them to seek legal employment within the country to enhance their stability and ease their stay.
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Providing Employment Opportunities
The president’s memorandum mandates the Secretary of Homeland Security to authorize, for the duration of their stay, employment opportunities to the Palestinians whose departure has been deferred.
In an interesting turn, a suggestion to suspend regulatory requirements specifically for Palestinian F-1 nonimmigrant students was also made.
A move that if approved, could offer this student population a better quality of life and opportunities for growth while the crisis continues in their homeland.
Defining Eligibility for Temporary Asylum
The decision taken by President Biden serves as a “temporary safe haven” for Palestinians in the U.S., as articulated by White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan.
This policy covers a majority of the Palestinians in the U.S, but Sullivan was quick to point out that those convicted of felonies or posing a threat to public safety would be excluded.
Further, anyone choosing to return voluntarily to the Palestinian territories would forfeit these protective measures.
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Democratic Pressure and Past Precedents
This executive move is the culmination of persistent urging by hundreds of Democratic lawmakers since late last year, triggered by the escalating Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
To draw parallels, President Biden has previously deployed Deferred Enforced Departure for certain Liberian and Hong Kong citizens. Likewise, Ukrainians received similar relief following the Russian invasion in February 2022.
Toll of the Gaza Conflict
Meanwhile, the chilling aftermath of the conflict continues to unfold. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, under Hamas’s control, the death toll within the territory has risen to an alarming 28,576 since the declaration of war by Israel.
However, amidst the indiscriminate devastation, the delineation between noncombatant deaths and those of the insurgents remains blurred.
Offering a glimmer of hope amidst the unrest, the U.S. administration’s move creates a humanitarian corridor for Palestinians residing in the U.S.
As the world monitors the ensuing conflict, these provisions offer some reassurance that the plight of innocent civilians is not lost in the fog of war.
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Drew Blankenship is a cryptocurrency investor, family man, father and lifelong automotive enthusiast. He lives in North Carolina with his wife, daughter and their dog Enzo.
