(TruthAndLiberty.com) – President Biden has decided to allow Palestinians currently in the United States to remain in the country for 18 months under a policy known as deferred enforced departure, as per a White House announcement on Wednesday.
This decision, outlined in a memorandum by the President, comes as a response to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza, highlighted by National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan. The move is a reaction to the severe escalation following the October 7 attack by Hamas on Israel and the subsequent military actions by Israel, which have led to a significant decline in the living conditions in Gaza.
Sullivan emphasized that this policy would extend protections to a majority of Palestinians in the U.S., although there are specific exclusions. Notably, individuals with felony convictions or those deemed as threats to public safety will not be eligible for this deferment. Additionally, any beneficiary who opts to return to the Palestinian territories voluntarily will forfeit these protections.
This initiative by Biden follows calls from some Democratic lawmakers, including Senator Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), who have been advocating for the President to offer Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) or similar temporary legal statuses to Palestinians in the U.S. They argue that it would be unjust to compel these individuals to return to Gaza amidst the ongoing conflict.
The urging for this decision comes in the wake of prolonged Israeli military actions in Gaza, initiated in response to the deadly attack by Hamas on October 7, which resulted in over 1,200 Israeli fatalities. The White House has expressed deep concern over the humanitarian situation in Gaza and has appealed to Israel to ensure the safety of civilians amidst the conflict.
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