Joe Biden has granted Palestinians in the US temporary protection from deportation as “civilians remain in danger” in Gaza.
The order will grant “deferred enforced departure” to approximately 6,000 Palestinians for the next 18 months.
Biden, 81, 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.
“I further direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to take appropriate measures to authorize employment for noncitizens whose removal has been deferred, as provided by this memorandum, for the duration of such deferral, and to consider suspending regulatory requirements with respect to F-1 non-immigrant students who are Palestinians as the Secretary of Homeland Security determines to be appropriate."
Biden will allow Palestinians in the US to avoid deportation
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The move will allow Palestinian tourists, students and workers to be able to avoid deportation until August 2025.
In a statement, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said that following “the horrific October 7 terrorist attack by Hamas against Israel, and Israel’s ensuing military response, humanitarian conditions in Gaza have significantly deteriorated.”
Sullivan said that Biden’s decision would make the US a “temporary safe haven” for Palestinians.
He added: “Those convicted of felonies or who are otherwise deemed to pose a public safety threat are not eligible for deferred enforced departure.”
Anyone who chooses to return to Palestine voluntarily will lose any protections.
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President Biden's decision will make the US a 'temporary safe haven'
ReutersEver since the war began on October 7, Biden has been facing mounting pressure to do more to protect Palestinians.
The 81-year-old has been criticised by Arab-American and Muslim leaders for not calling for a ceasefire to the Middle-Eastern conflict.
In December, Muslim American leaders pledged to rally their communities against President Biden over his backing of Israel in their war with Hamas.
The movement, dubbed online as the #AbandonBiden campaign, began when Muslim leaders in Minnesota called for Biden to enact a ceasefire in Gaza by October 31, 2023.
Pro-Palestine protests take place in New YorkReutersThe boycott is especially damaging given many of the states in which the communities live are considered swing states and could determine the outcome of the election.
“This #AbandonBiden 2024 conference is set against the backdrop of the upcoming 2024 presidential election and the decision to withdraw support for President Biden due to his unwillingness to call for a ceasefire and protect innocents in Palestine and Israel,” the group told Axios in a statement.
One leader wrote on social media: “Genocide Joe has got to go! #AbandonBiden.”
The US President has stopped short of calling for a ceasefire, something that has outraged many.
Health officials in Gaza claim at least 28,500 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks in the region.