President Biden issued an executive order on Wednesday directing federal immigration authorities to halt the deportation of most Palestinian immigrants residing in the United States.
This action comes in response to the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip between Israel and Hamas, which has rendered it unsafe to repatriate individuals to the region.
The executive order, which aligns with calls from Democratic lawmakers in Congress made last year, is anticipated to provide protection from deportation for several thousand Palestinians residing in the US, according to an administration official.
President Biden cited the deteriorating humanitarian conditions in the Palestinian territories, particularly in Gaza, following terrorist attacks by Hamas militants on October 7th and Israel’s military response, resulting in the loss of thousands of Palestinian lives, as the rationale behind his order.
Biden Deploys DED Program for Directive
President Biden utilized the Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) program, a presidential initiative rooted in executive authority over foreign policy, to issue the directive.
This program, which grants beneficiaries temporary work permits, has been employed by presidents from both Republican and Democratic administrations.
The deportation relief provided to Palestinians, set to extend for 18 months, will not extend to individuals who are not currently present in the United States, nor will it be applicable to those convicted of serious crimes or deemed to pose a threat to public safety.
Additionally, individuals returning to the Palestinian territories will be ineligible for the program.
Jake Sullivan, the national security adviser to President Biden, expressed that this action will afford protection to the majority of Palestinians residing in the United States.
DED serves as one avenue through which administrations can shield immigrant communities from deportation without the need for congressional intervention.
Biden Administration Implements TPS Policy
Another well-known policy utilized by the Biden administration is Temporary Protected Status (TPS), which extends deportation protections and work permits to hundreds of thousands of migrants hailing from countries grappling with crises such as Afghanistan, Cameroon, Haiti, Sudan, Ukraine, and Venezuela.
Democratic lawmakers commended President Biden’s decision, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing diplomacy, peace, and security in the Middle East. Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal and Jan Schakowsky jointly expressed their support for this move in a statement.