Already a subscriber? Make sure to log into your account before viewing this content. You can access your account by hitting the “login” button on the top right corner. Still unable to see the content after signing in? Make sure your card on file is up-to-date.

President Biden has announced an 18-month deferred enforced departure for Palestinians residing in the United States.

In a statement, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said, “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 in a statement. This grant of deferred enforced departure would provide protections for most Palestinians in the United States, with certain exceptions.”

Highlighting the limitations of this protection, he added that individuals “convicted of felonies or who are considered a public safety threat” would not be eligible and that “anyone who voluntarily returns to the Palestinian territories would lose the protections.”

The decision follows advocacy from some Democrats, including Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), who has pushed for the administration to provide some form of temporary legal status to Palestinians in the US. In light of this push, the White House has “voiced serious concerns about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and called on Israel to protect civilians.”