Deferred Enforced Departure for Certain Palestinians

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 34 (Tuesday, February 20, 2024)]

[Presidential Documents]

[Pages 12743-12744]

From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

[FR Doc No: 2024-03514]

Presidential Documents

Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 34 / Tuesday, February 20, 2024 /

Presidential Documents

___________________________________________________________________

Title 3--

The President

[[Page 12743]]

Memorandum of February 14, 2024

Deferred Enforced Departure for Certain

Palestinians

Memorandum for the Secretary of State [and] the

Secretary of Homeland Security

Following the horrific October 7, 2023, terrorist

attack by Hamas against Israel, and Israel's ensuing

military response, humanitarian conditions in the

Palestinian territories, and primarily Gaza, have

significantly deteriorated. While I remain focused on

improving the humanitarian situation, many civilians

remain in danger; therefore, I am directing the

deferral of removal of certain Palestinians who are

present in the United States.

Pursuant to my constitutional authority to conduct the

foreign relations of the United States, I have

determined that it is in the foreign policy interest of

the United States to defer for 18 months the removal of

any Palestinian subject to the conditions and

exceptions provided below.

Accordingly, I hereby direct the Secretary of Homeland

Security to take appropriate measures to defer for 18

months the removal of any Palestinian who is present in

the United States on the date of this memorandum,

except for those:

estinian subject to the conditions and

exceptions provided below.

Accordingly, I hereby direct the Secretary of Homeland

Security to take appropriate measures to defer for 18

months the removal of any Palestinian who is present in

the United States on the date of this memorandum,

except for those:

(1) who have voluntarily returned to the

Palestinian territories after the date of this

memorandum;

(2) who have not continuously resided in the United

States since the date of this memorandum;

(3) who are inadmissible under section 212(a)(3) of

the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) (8 U.S.C.

1182(a)(3)) or deportable under section 237(a)(4) of

the INA (8 U.S.C. 1227(a)(4));

(4) who have been convicted of any felony or two or

more misdemeanors committed in the United States, or

who meet any of the criteria set forth in section

208(b)(2)(A) of the INA (8 U.S.C. 1158(b)(2)(A));

(5) who are subject to extradition;

(6) whose presence in the United States the

Secretary of Homeland Security has determined is not in

the interest of the United States or presents a danger

to public safety; or

criteria set forth in section

208(b)(2)(A) of the INA (8 U.S.C. 1158(b)(2)(A));

(5) who are subject to extradition;

(6) whose presence in the United States the

Secretary of Homeland Security has determined is not in

the interest of the United States or presents a danger

to public safety; or

(7) whose presence in the United States the

Secretary of State has reasonable grounds to believe

would have potentially serious adverse foreign policy

consequences for the United States.

[[Page 12744]]

I further direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to

take appropriate measures to authorize employment for

noncitizens whose removal has been deferred, as

provided by this memorandum, for the duration of such

deferral, and to consider suspending regulatory

requirements with respect to F-1 nonimmigrant students

who are Palestinians as the Secretary of Homeland

Security determines to be appropriate.

The Secretary of Homeland Security is authorized and

directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal

Register.

(Presidential Sig.)

THE WHITE HOUSE,

Washington, February 14, 2024

[FR Doc. 2024-03514

Filed 2-16-24; 8:45 am]

Billing code 4410-10-P