The Biden administration made an announcement on Thursday, granting temporary legal status to Lebanese citizens currently residing in the United States. This decision is likely to resonate positively among Arab voters, particularly in crucial states like Michigan.

With this new declaration, along with a prior offer in July, approximately 11,000 Lebanese individuals will have the opportunity to remain in the U.S. and apply for work authorization. The eligible individuals must have been physically present in the country as of Wednesday, and the temporary status is set to last for 18 months.

According to the Department of Homeland Security, the Temporary Protected Status will enable Lebanese nationals to remain in the country “while discussions are ongoing to reach a diplomatic resolution for lasting stability and security along the Israel-Lebanon border.” It is vital that applicants were in the U.S. on the specified date.

Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump have both faced the challenge of navigating the ongoing conflict in Lebanon and the broader Middle Eastern tensions as they approach the final weeks of their respective campaigns for the White House.

The violence escalated on October 8, 2023, when Hezbollah began launching rockets into Israel, acting in solidarity with Hamas in Gaza. This initiated a series of retaliatory actions by Israel, including significant airstrikes on Lebanon and a ground offensive intended to push Hezbollah forces away from the border, enabling residents of northern Israel to return home safely.

Assad I. Turfe, the deputy executive for Wayne County, Michigan, expressed that the new TPS designation would offer essential assistance to Lebanese nationals, facilitating family reunification within the U.S. and alleviating the hardships brought on by the ongoing conflict.

As of late March, nearly 900,000 individuals were benefiting from Temporary Protected Status, as reported by the Congressional Research Service. This program, established by law in 1990, grants legal status to people from nations affected by natural disasters or civil unrest.

Furthermore, alongside the TPS, some individuals from Palestine, Lebanon, Liberia, and Hong Kong who are living in the United States are protected under a similar program named Deferred Enforcement Departure, which is administered by the presidential authority rather than the Department of Homeland Security.