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Representatives Debbie Dingell (MI-06), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), and Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), along with 35 of their House colleagues, today sent a letter to Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, urging for the designation of Lebanon for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to protect Lebanese nationals in the United States and permit those affected by the ongoing crises in Lebanon to find safe haven in our country.

“Social instability and persistent internal and external shocks continue to challenge the country and contribute to worsening conditions in Lebanon. The 2019 freedom protests, 2020 Beirut port explosion, 2021 fuel crisis, COVID-19 pandemic, Russian invasion of Ukraine, hyperinflation with dwindling foreign reserve accounts, and increased regional tensions heightening chances of armed conflict have afflicted significant pain on Lebanon, preventing the safe return of Lebanese nationals,” the lawmakers write. “The country’s economy is suffering a major collapse and has been described by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as “at a dangerous crossroads,” and in desperate need of rapid reform. The World Bank currently ranks Lebanon's crisis among the top 10 most severe global episodes since the mid-19th century – with 82 percent of the Lebanese population living in multidimensional poverty and 75 percent living in income poverty.

“Given the extraordinary, overlapping challenges in the country, Lebanon clearly qualifies for TPS designation,” the lawmakers continue. “The myriad issues facing Lebanon render the safe return of Lebanese nationals currently residing in the United States impossible and largely mirror the interrelated crises facing other countries, such as Haiti and Venezuela, that have received this designation. Approximately 12,000 Lebanese nationals in the United States would be eligible for TPS if the country is designated – of which almost 64% of this population is already in the U.S. labor force, have been in the United States on average for 7 years, and contribute roughly $420 million annually to the U.S. economy.”

“We urge you to designate TPS for Lebanon, to publish a timely Federal Register Notice, and to launch a public information campaign to notify the impacted community of the decision and any actions they must take by the designated deadline. We call for a minimum 180-day registration period for those who would benefit under designation,” the lawmakers conclude.“The United States has long offered refuge to those seeking shelter from catastrophe. The crisis in Lebanon provides an opportunity to honor this commitment by supporting Lebanese nationals in their time of need.”

View the full text of the letter here.