Deferred Enforced Departure for Certain Palestinians

___________________________________________________________________

Title 3--
The President

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:

(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
(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.

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.

THE WHITE HOUSE,

Washington, February 14, 2024