The Trump administration has extended deportation protections for around 11,000 Lebanese nationals in the United States, allowing them to live and work in the country for another six months. The decision was announced by the Department of Homeland Security.
The extension comes amid continuing clashes in southern Lebanon between Israeli forces and Iran backed Lebanon based armed group Hezbollah. The protection is provided under the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) programme, which allows people from countries facing conflict or extraordinary conditions to stay temporarily in the US.
The move was automatic after the administration missed the legal deadline to decide whether the Lebanese TPS designation should be renewed. Under US law, the status is automatically extended by six months if no decision is made before the deadline.
The outcome is notable because the Trump administration has largely moved to end similar protections for people from several countries, including Venezuela, Haiti, Nicaragua and Syria.
