WASHINGTON: President Joe Biden has signed an order protecting Palestinians in the United States from deportation for the next 18 months, the White House on Wednesday said, referring to deteriorating humanitarian conditions in the war-hit Gaza Strip.
A Biden administration official said that the move grants deferred enforced departure to around 6,000 Palestinians.
White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan in a statement said that humanitarian conditions in Gaza have significantly deteriorated after a war between Israel and Hamas on October 7.
Sullivan said Biden’s move would give Palestinians a temporary safe haven in the US. He stated that anyone who returns to the Palestinian territories voluntarily would lose their protections.
After more than four months of war, Biden is under pressure to take more steps to protect Palestinians in Gaza and ensure assistance into the enclave. He has also faced severe criticism from Arab-American and Muslim leaders for not calling for a permanent ceasefire in the Gaza war.
Abed Ayoub, executive director of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, in a statement said there is a desperate need for steps to protect Palestinians in the US.
Moments ago, President Biden designated Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) for nationals of Palestine currently in the U.S. This is a welcomed action by the Biden Administration to protect thousands of Palestinians in the country. @adc has been working tirelessly with a coalition… pic.twitter.com/noo2qWL57X
— Abed A. Ayoub (@aayoub) February 14, 2024
Ayoub said the situation in Gaza and Palestine is worsening so the Palestinian in the US must be protected from deportation.
According to Gaza health officials at least 28,500 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza since October 7.
