DHS Extends TPS for 11,000 Lebanese Nationals for Six Months Through November 2026

The Department of Homeland Security extended Temporary Protected Status for approximately 11,000 Lebanese nationals living in the United States. The extension runs for six months and allows covered individuals to remain and work legally through November 27, 2026. Work permits already issued to Lebanese TPS holders remain valid until the same date.

The extension took effect automatically after the department missed the March 28 deadline for a formal determination on Lebanon’s TPS designation. Federal statute requires a six-month continuation of TPS when the decision deadline passes without action.

The notice stated that former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and current Secretary Markwayne Mullin were unable to make an informed determination on Lebanon’s TPS designation.

This marks only the second automatic TPS extension under the current administration. The first occurred nearly a year ago for South Sudan and later ended. The extension comes while fighting continues in southern Lebanon between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters.

Congress created the Temporary Protected Status program in 1990 to shield people from deportation to countries experiencing armed conflict or natural disasters. More than one million immigrants from 17 countries held TPS protections at the start of the current administration.

The administration has ended TPS designations for nationals of 13 other countries, including Venezuela, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Syria.

Kelly Razzouk, vice president of policy and advocacy at the International Rescue Committee, said extending Temporary Protected Status means Lebanese nationals in the United States will not be forced back into dangerous conditions but allowed to stay and continue supporting their families and contributing to their local communities.

José Palma, national coordinator of the National TPS Alliance, also welcomed the extension. Multiple lawsuits challenging other TPS terminations remain pending in federal courts, with the Supreme Court scheduled to rule this summer on cases involving Haitian and Syrian nationals.