President Biden has decided to grant deferred enforced departure for 18 months to Palestinians currently in the United States, as announced by the White House on Wednesday.

The memorandum signed by the president directs the deferral of removal for specific Palestinians in light of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

National security adviser Jake Sullivan clarified that individuals convicted of felonies or deemed a public safety threat are not eligible for deferred enforced departure.

Additionally, those voluntarily returning to the Palestinian territories would lose these protections, The Hill reported.

The move follows pressure from some Democrats urging Biden to authorize Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) for Palestinians in the U.S., particularly amid concerns about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Written by B.C. Begley